1) At what age should children have their vision screened?
Because a small child rarely complains that one eye is not seeing properly, examination of the eyes should be done at 6 months, 36 months and yearly after this, according to Pediatrics (Vol. 98, No. 1 July 1996).  Also click here.

2) How common are serious eye problems in children?
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).

3) Is there a problem with current vision screening practices?
Half of all children with amblyopia are diagnosed after age five when therapy may no longer be as 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."

4) Is there an optimum age to vision screen children for amblyopia?
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."  Clinically, amblyopia can be treated at any age but success is less as age increases.  We commonly treat amblyopia in the teen years.

5) How does amblyopia affect a child's vision?
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:

--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.

--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.

--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.

6) Can amblyopia be cured?
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 than six to seven years of age," but also pointed out that amblyopia is often still diagnosed too late for treatment to be as effective, in both industrialized and developing countries, alike.

7) What advantages does the PhotoScreener™ have over other vision testing methods?
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.

8) Is the photoscreening process uncomfortable for the child?
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.

9) How does the PhotoScreener™ work?
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.

10) What studies have been published regarding the PhotoScreener™
Please click here for studies.