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Pediatric Anisometropia Vision Screening & Detection FAQs

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Anisometropia

Anisometropia is a condition in which the two eyes have significantly different refractive powers.

Anisometropia that is severe enough to be a risk factor for amblyopia is fairly uncommon, according to a study by the Baltimore Pediatric Eye Disease Study (BPEDS), a population-based study of African-American and non-Hispanic white children aged 6 months to 71 months. The study was designed to estimate the prevalence and risk factors for pediatric ocular diseases such as anisometropia. For anisometropia of greater than 2.00 diopters, the Baltimore study found a prevalence of 1.5% among white children and 1.0% among African American children. More severe anisometropia of greater than 3.00 diopters was present in only 0.7% of whites and 0.2% of African-Americans.

Anisometropia is a condition in which the two eyes have significantly different refractive powers.

Anisometropia that is severe enough to be a risk factor for amblyopia is fairly uncommon, according to a study by the Baltimore Pediatric Eye Disease Study (BPEDS), a population-based study of African-American and non-Hispanic white children aged 6 months to 71 months. The study was designed to estimate the prevalence and risk factors for pediatric ocular diseases such as anisometropia. For anisometropia of greater than 2.00 diopters, the Baltimore study found a prevalence of 1.5% among white children and 1.0% among African American children. More severe anisometropia of greater than 3.00 diopters was present in only 0.7% of whites and 0.2% of African-Americans.

According to revised guidelines published in 2012 by the American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus (AAPOS), the amount of anisometropia that puts a child at risk for amblyopia varies according to age, since the amount of hyperopia a child has normally naturally lessens as a child ages and his eyes grow, which may cause anisometropia to also lessen as they age. For children aged 12-30 months, AAPOS guidelines consider children at risk for amblyopia if they have a difference in refraction between the two eyes, or anisometropia, greater than +2.5 diopters; for children aged 31-48 months, anisometropia greater than +2.0 diopters is considered a risk factor for amblyopia, and for children older than 49 months, anisometropia of more than +1.5 diopters is considered an amblyopia risk factor. iScreen Vision uses AAPOS guidelines in analyzing images and determining whether or not a child who is screened or tested for amblyopia should be referred for anisometropia.

Yes, differences in refraction between two eyes can normally be corrected with glasses or contact lenses. If anisometropia has caused amblyopia in a child, then treatment may include patching or drops.

Yes. Anisometropia will normally create asymmetrical “red reflex” images in one eye when compared to the other. A red reflex is when light is transmitted through the transparent portions of the eye and reflects off the retina, creating a reddish orange reflection in the eyes. Because iScreen Vision’s technology, called photoscreening, creates a digital red reflex image of the eye, anisometropia would normally be detected. When photoscreening is used to detect anisometropia, you may hear it referred to as:Anisometropia Vision Screening, Anisometropia Vision Testing, Pediatric Anisometropia Vision Screening, or Pediatric Anisometropia Vision Testing.

These FAQs discuss topics including: Anisometropia, Anisometropia Vision Screening, Anisometropia Vision Testing, Pediatric Anisometropia Vision Screening, and Pediatric Anisometropia Vision Testing.