Need for refractive errors screening in school-age children by objective methods

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Article Title:	Need for refractive errors screening in school-age children by objective methods
Authors:	Luminita Turcin, Afilon Jompan
Affiliation:	“Vasile Goldiş” Western University Arad, Faculty of Medicine, Pharmacy and Dentistry, Romania
Abstract:	We emphasize the importance of a correct vision in school-age children. Vision screening is not enough. We propose as a method for determining the exact refraction: computerized photoretinoscopy. Methods: We examined 1121 students, aged 6 to 11 years from 5 primary schools in Arad County, in September 2011 March 2012. My attention was focused on the following parameters: age, gender, objective refraction, visual acuity. Refraction was measured with an autorefractometru Potek 5000. Visual acuity was assessed by Snellen test. Its values less than or equal to 0.8 (80%) are considered pathological. Were considered pathological values as follows: myopia – minimum-1.0DS refractive error (spherical diopters), hyperopia refractive error of +1.5 SD, and 1.0 DC astigmatism (cylindrical diopters). Results: Of the 1121 students enrolled in our study 315 had refractive errors, 48 myopia, hyperopia 159 and 108 astigmatism. Using as reference the visual acuity of 4/5 (80%) we found 275 cases with vision problems. Using computerized refractometer we found 315 cases of children with refractive errors. Conclusion: Getting in the screening results of visual acuity of above 0.8 indicates no emmetrop eye status. Hypermetropia, astigmatism and myopia may even be sources of ocular discomfort. To identify these refractive errors computerized testing is required under cycloplegic refractometry.
Keywords:	visual acuity, schoolchildren, screening
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*Correspondence:	Luminita Turcin, “Vasile Goldiş” Western University Arad, Faculty of Medicine, Pharmacy and Dentistry, Romania