Journal article
Prevalence of decreased visual acuity among preschool-aged children in an American urban population - The Baltimore Pediatric Eye Disease Study, methods, and results
Ophthalmology (Rochester, Minn.), v 115(10), pp 1786-1795
01 Oct 2008
PMID: 18538407
Abstract
Objective: To determine the age- and ethnicity-specific prevalence of decreased visual acuity (VA) in white and black preschool-aged children.
Design: Cross-sectional study.
Participants: The Baltimore Pediatric Eye Disease Study is a population-based evaluation of the prevalence of ocular disorders in children 6 through 71 months of age in Baltimore, Maryland, United States. Among 4132 children identified, 3990 eligible children (97%) were enrolled and 2546 children (62%) were examined. This report focuses on 1714 of 2546 examined children (67%) who were 30 through 71 months of age.
Methods: Field staff identified 63 737 occupied dwelling units in 54 census tracts. Parents or guardians of eligible participants underwent an in-home interview, and eligible children underwent a comprehensive eye examination including optotype visual acuity (VA) testing in children 30 months of age and older, with protocolspecified retesting of children with VA worse than an age-appropriate standard.
Main Outcome Measures: The proportion of children 30 through 71 months of age testable for VA and the proportion with decreased VA as defined by preset criteria.
Results: Visual acuity was testable in 1504 of 1714 children (87.7%) 30 through 71 months of age. It was decreased at the initial test (wearing glasses if brought to the clinic) in both eyes of 7 of 577 white children (1.21 %; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.49-2.50) and 13 of 725 black children (1.79%; 95% CI, 0.95-3.08), a difference that is not statistically significant. Decreased VA in both eyes after retesting was found in 3 of 598 white children (0.50%; 95% CI, 0.10-1.48) and in 8 of 757 black children (1.06%, 95% CI = 0.45, 2.10), also not statistically significantly different. Uncorrected ametropia explained the decreased VA on initial testing in 10 of the 20 children.
Conclusions: Decreased VA in both eyes of children 30 through 71 months of age at presentation in urban Baltimore was 1.2% among white children and 1.8% among black children. After retesting within 60 days of the initial examination and with children wearing best refractive correction, the rate of decreased VA in both eyes was 0.5% among white children and 1.1 % among black children.
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Details
- Title
- Prevalence of decreased visual acuity among preschool-aged children in an American urban population - The Baltimore Pediatric Eye Disease Study, methods, and results
- Creators
- David S. Friedman - Johns Hopkins UniversityMichael X. Repka - Johns Hopkins UniversityJoanne Katz - Johns Hopkins UniversityLydia Giordano - Johns Hopkins UniversityJosephine Ibironke - Johns Hopkins UniversityPatricia Hawes - Johns Hopkins UniversityDiane Burkom - BattelleJames M. Tielsch - Johns Hopkins University
- Publication Details
- Ophthalmology (Rochester, Minn.), v 115(10), pp 1786-1795
- Publisher
- Elsevier
- Number of pages
- 10
- Grant note
- EY14483 / National Eye Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland; United States Department of Health & Human Services; National Institutes of Health (NIH) - USA; NIH National Eye Institute (NEI) U10EY014483 / NATIONAL EYE INSTITUTE; United States Department of Health & Human Services; National Institutes of Health (NIH) - USA; NIH National Eye Institute (NEI)
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Language
- English
- Academic Unit
- Pennsylvania College of Optometry (PCO)
- Web of Science ID
- WOS:000259852200021
- Scopus ID
- 2-s2.0-53149151049
- Other Identifier
- 991022156371604721