title: Early Childhood Vision Screening in Hawai'i Utilizing a Hand-Held Screener.
abstract: The goal of early childhood vision screening is to detect subnormal vision and amblyopic risk factors that threaten visual development so that treatment can be initiated early to yield the highest benefit. Hand-held, portable, instrument-based vision screening devices can be used in children as young as 6 months of age. We assessed the feasibility of hand-held photoscreeners to screen for vision disorders in pre-school children in Hawai'i. A total of 137 preschool children on O'ahu in the "Tutu and Me"/Partners in Development program were screened at 6 different locations using the Plusoptix S12 hand-held photoscreener. Once technical issues were resolved, screening was fast and well tolerated. Possible vision abnormalities were found in 11 of the 137 children (8%). Poor compliance for follow-up with formal vision examination limited our ability to confirm these abnormalities. We conclude that photoscreening has the potential to facilitate early childhood vision screening in Hawai'i. The optimal referral criteria for use in Hawai'i will need to be determined after considering the age of the screening population and the available medical resources in Hawai'i. Early detection of treatable eye disorders has far-reaching benefits for the visual development and long term health and well-being of children. A comprehensive early childhood vision screening program in Hawai'i utilizing automated hand-held photoscreeners may have public health value. Such a program should integrate referral to an eye care professional for confirmation and management of vision disorders of at-risk children found on screening.
authors.affiliation: Vision Care Centers of Hawai'i, Honolulu, HI (DAC, RCE).
authors.forename: Duane A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.affiliation: Vision Care Centers of Hawai'i, Honolulu, HI (DAC, RCE).
authors.forename: Roger C
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Ede
authors.affiliation: Vision Care Centers of Hawai'i, Honolulu, HI (DAC, RCE).
authors.forename: Dominic C
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: Chow
authors.affiliation: Vision Care Centers of Hawai'i, Honolulu, HI (DAC, RCE).
authors.forename: Ryan D
authors.initials: RD
authors.lastname: Souza
authors.affiliation: Vision Care Centers of Hawai'i, Honolulu, HI (DAC, RCE).
authors.forename: Louie Mar A
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Gangcuangco
authors.affiliation: Vision Care Centers of Hawai'i, Honolulu, HI (DAC, RCE).
authors.forename: Nancy
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Hanks
authors.affiliation: Vision Care Centers of Hawai'i, Honolulu, HI (DAC, RCE).
authors.forename: Beau K
authors.initials: BK
authors.lastname: Nakamoto
authors.affiliation: Vision Care Centers of Hawai'i, Honolulu, HI (DAC, RCE).
authors.forename: Brooks
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Mitchell
authors.affiliation: Vision Care Centers of Hawai'i, Honolulu, HI (DAC, RCE).
authors.forename: Alison T
authors.initials: AT
authors.lastname: Masutani
authors.affiliation: Vision Care Centers of Hawai'i, Honolulu, HI (DAC, RCE).
authors.forename: Sam
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Fisk
authors.affiliation: Vision Care Centers of Hawai'i, Honolulu, HI (DAC, RCE).
authors.forename: Cecilia M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Shikuma
authors.affiliation: Vision Care Centers of Hawai'i, Honolulu, HI (DAC, RCE).
authors.forename: Jan E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Dill
mesh_terms: D000550:Amblyopia / Q000175:diagnosis*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D019719:Diagnostic Equipment; D005260:Female; D006254:Hawaii; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D015351:Vision Screening / Q000295:instrumentation*
keywords: amblyopia; photoscreening; vision screening