Teen Eye Tests Could Miss Eye Problems


Teen eye exams could fail to detect vision problems including farsightedness and curving of the cornea, or astigmatisim, researchers claim. A new report published in the journal, Archives of Ophthalmology, shows that using a visual acuity exam to screen for vision problems could result in thousands of children and teens not being referred for vision correcting treatments.

Researchers at the University of Sydney, Australia, studied the eye health of 2,353 13 year olds and found that, on average, participants could read 54 letters on a visual acuity chart . A score of 45 letters or less was successfully usually used to identify children with myopia - or short sightedness. However, the scientists were unable to impose a similar cut-off that reliably indicated whether a child was far-sighted or had a curved cornea.

Scientists now explain that further research is needed in order to better improve standard screening methods that safeguard the vision of children and adults. 

16th July 2010

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