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| 1. |
What is the PhotoScreener™? |
| 2. |
At what age should children have their vision screened? |
| 3. |
How common are serious eye problems in children? |
| 4. |
Is there a problem with current vision screening practices? |
| 5. |
Is there an optimum age to vision screen children for amblyopia? |
| 6. |
How does amblyopia affect a child's vision? |
| 7. |
Can amblyopia be cured? |
| 8. |
What advantages does the PhotoScreener™ have over other vision testing methods? |
| 9. |
Is the photoscreening process uncomfortable for the child? |
| 10. |
How does the PhotoScreener™ work? |
| 11. |
What eye problems can the PhotoScreener™ detect? |
| 12. |
Who makes the PhotoScreener™? |
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| 1. |
What is the PhotoScreener™? |
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It is a portable camera that uses high-speed Polaroid® film to
instantly identify eye disorders in infants and young children
that can lead to amblyopia and other serious vision problems. |
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| 2. |
At what age should children have their vision screened? |
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Because a small child rarely complains that one eye is not
seeing properly, examination of the eyes should be done at all
well-infant and well-child visits, beginning at the newborn
period, according to Pediatrics (Vol. 98, No. 1 July 1996). |
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| 3. |
How common are serious eye problems in children? |
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According to Prevent Blindness America, a national nonprofit
organization based in Schaumburg, IL, one in 20 preschoolers has
a vision disorder that can cause permanent sight loss if left
untreated. The most common types of eye problems seen in
children are: myopia (nearsightedness), strabismus (crossed
eyes) and amblyopia (lazy eye). |
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| 4. |
Is there a problem with current vision screening practices? |
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Half of all children with amblyopia are diagnosed after age five
when therapy may no longer be effective, according to a study
reported in Pediatrics (Vol. 89 No. 5 May 1992). The study
concluded that "pediatricians need to increase vision screening
among younger preschool children and communicate more
effectively to parents the results of screening failure." The
article also cited two studies which estimated that "only 25% of
the nation's preschoolers receive any kind of vision testing." |
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| 5. |
Is there an optimum age to vision screen children for amblyopia? |
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Since amblyopia, one of the most serious eye disorders in
children, is more easily treated during its incubation period
(ages one to three), many investigators recommend screening at
very early ages. Studies that have appeared in Survey of
Ophthalmology (1983; 28: 145-63) and the Journal of Pediatric
Ophthalmology (1991; 28: 183-201) have recommended screening for
amblyopia before the age of 24 months. In a "Major Review" that
appeared in Survey of Ophthalmology (Vol. 40 No. 1 July-August
1995), the researcher reported that "amblyopia can be prevented
only if amblyogenic factors are detected by screening during the
first two years of life." |
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6. |
How does amblyopia affect a child's vision? |
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Commonly referred to as lazy eye, amblyopia is a "common
childhood disorder affecting 3% to 5% of the population"
(Journal of Pediatric Ophthalmology & Strabismus, 1995; 32:
289-295). Amblyopia occurs if there is unequal or abnormal
visual input from the eye to the brain caused by several
factors: |
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Anisometropic Amblyopia: The optical powers of the two
eye are different. If one eye is very nearsighted or farsighted,
the brain receives normally focused visual input from one eye
and blurred images from the other. |
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Strabismus or Suppression Amblyopia (misaligned or crossed
eye): A young child's brain routinely suppresses the image
from a deviating eye. If left undetected and untreated, this may
result in permanently decreased vision and structural brain
damage. |
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Deprivation Amblyopia: Certain diseases of the eye, for
example cataracts, block light from being focused on the retina
(the structure of the back of the eye that acts like the film of
a camera). As a result, no clear image is available to be sent
to the brain, which is then deprived of visual input. This type
of amblyopia generally results in the most severe loss of
vision. |
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| 7. |
Can amblyopia be cured? |
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A study in Survey of Ophthalmology (Vol. 40 No. 1 July-August
1995) observed that "the best approach to managing amblyopia is
to detect amblyogenic factors before the age of two years and
prevent it through eliminating the causes of visual
deprivation." The review concluded that when amblyopia exists,
"it can be cured if adequately treated in children less that six
to seven years of age," but also pointed out that amblyopia is
often still diagnosed too late for treatment to be effective, in
both industrialized and developing countries, alike. |
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| 8. |
What advantages does the PhotoScreener™ have over other vision testing methods? |
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Most current vision screening methodologies are not effective in
screening preverbal children. With the PhotoScreener™, however,
doctors can reliably screen children as young as six months for
conditions that could lead to amblyopia. The methodology is
extremely simple: a flash photograph of the subject's eye is
taken. The light reflected from the retina is analyzed to detect
refractive errors, strabismus and/or media opacities. |
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| 9. |
Is the photoscreening process uncomfortable for the child? |
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The PhotoScreener™ operates very much like any other camera; it
takes an instant Polaroid® photograph of the child's eyes -
safely and painlessly - without dilation. The entire process
takes less than five minutes. The camera uses a combination of
flashing lights and a musical tune to help capture the child's
attention. |
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| 10. |
How does the PhotoScreener™ work? |
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The PhotoScreener™ takes two pictures of the child's eyes. The
Polaroid® snapshots allow for immediate interpretation of
disorders that might otherwise be missed. Refractive errors are
evident if white crescents appear in the photograph. Strabismus
and cataracts are also clearly visible in the photographs. It is
very easy to use, weighs only six pounds and uses a special high
speed (ISO 3200) Polaroid® film. |
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| 11. |
What eye problems can the PhotoScreener™ detect? |
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It is effective in its ability to screen for nearsightedness,
farsightedness, astigmatism, in addition to strabismus
(misaligned or crossed eyes) and diseases of the eye such as
cataracts. |
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| 12. |
Who makes the PhotoScreener™? |
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The PhotoScreener™ is manufactured and distributed by MTI in
Riviera Beach, Florida. After years of successful field testing
in seven states, the PhotoScreener™ was introduced to the market
in April 1994. Today, it is distributed worldwide. |
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