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New chart measures visual acuity in pediatric patients
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A new pediatric eye chart successfully measured visual acuity in patients aged 6 to 16 years with vision ranging from 20/16 to 20/200, a study found.
The Handy Eye Chart uses four hand gesture optotypes and was designed to be a simple matching acuity test that is minimally dependent on familiarity with symbols and letters, according to the study. Unlike the Thumbs-Up test, the new chart employs optotypes that appear to blur equally, the study authors said.
The study included 60 consecutive children aged 6 to 16 years at a single center. Each subject’s eye with poorest visual acuity was tested using both the new chart and the ETDRS chart.
Monocular visual acuity results with both charts showed a strong linear correlation. The mean difference in acuity was −0.03 logMAR, about 1.5 letters. The new chart tended to underestimate visual acuity as determined by the ETDRS chart.
“Although this study demonstrated potential for use of the new eye chart in children aged 6 to 18 years, additional study will be required to see how the optotypes perform when presented in isolated fashion and when introduced to the population of children for whom they were intended (younger, nonverbal, and developmentally delayed children),” the authors said.
Awareness of cultural differences should be considered when using the new chart in international settings, the authors noted, because certain gestures may be offensive in some countries.
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