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Posted by Ann Gold
Certain eye tests conducted on adolescents can actually miss a number of vision problems that are affecting them, new research has shown.
This suggests that some patients are left unaware that particular
eye correction options could help them to address these problems, leaving them suffering for longer.
A study published in the Archives of Ophthalmology has found that visual acuity tests on this age group are usually reliable for detecting nearsightedness conditions and problems associated with it, but can overlook other issues.
Key among these are farsightedness and astigmatism, which can be missed in teenagers subject to this type of test.
Reduced vision is most commonly caused in children by an uncorrected refractive error but nearsightedness – which can be identified through visual acuity tests – and astigmatism and farsightedness – which are not – are less reliably identified by this method.
The study's authors found that a number of children suffering from these issues would not be referred for treatment and
eye correction options if they only had this test administered, highlighting the importance of having children tested thoroughly.
They stated: "Even children with very high levels of hyperopia achieved near-normal levels of visual acuity. If these visual acuity values were used to identify children with hyperopic and astigmatic refractive errors, the level of over-referral would [be] unacceptably high."
In reaching their conclusions, the team behind the research assessed 2,353 students of average age 12.7 at a number of Sydney secondary schools. Each pupil underwent a visual acuity test, a cycloplegic autorefraction and keratometry and the results were compared.
MedPage Today recently published research conducted by Zalman S Agus, emeritus professor at the University of Pennyslavania School of Medicine, which found that while standard eye tests effectively identify myopia, long-sightedness could be missed and suitable
eye correction options may not be administered to patients as a result.
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