Factors influencing the detection of visual developmental deficits in 3-year-old kindergarten children.
OBJECTIVE
In the 'Tübingen Kindergarten study', an orthoptic screening program for amblyopia in three-year-olds was evaluated. In the retrospective analysis presented here, the association between a child's history--especially participation in the regular preventive care examinations in Germany (U4 to U7)--and the time of detection of target diseases was investigated.


METHODS
The parents of three groups of children were interviewed by telephone. Group 1 consisted of 21 children already treated for amblyopia before orthoptic screening; group 2 of 26 children with target conditions newly detected by orthoptic screening; and group 3 of 32 children with newly detected moderate ametropia. The groups were tested for differences in history and utilization/results of the regular preventive care examinations.


RESULTS
Participation in regular preventive care ranged from 82% to 92%. There were no significant differences between the groups. Nearly 90% of parents from groups 2 and 3 had not heard of amblyopia before orthoptic screening. Only one child had been referred after regular preventive care examinations.


CONCLUSIONS
The regular preventive care examinations contributed little to the detection of amblyopia. The strong position of the pediatrician should be used for the early information of parents.
Barry
J C
JC
Department of Ophthalmology II, University Eye Hospital, Tübingen, Germany. jean-cyriaque.barry@dgn.de
Reher
C
C
König
H H
HH
D000550:Amblyopia / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005858:Germany / Q000453:epidemiology; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D009988:Orthoptics; D010349:Patient Compliance; D010358:Patient Participation; D015995:Prevalence; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D015351:Vision Screening / Q000379:methods