Many eye tests for children simply test visual acuity, which is a measure of how well a child sees (e.g., does the child have 20/20 vision?). The iScreen Vision Screener 3000 is a specialized pediatric ophthalmic camera, known as a photoscreener, which screens for eye abnormalities that are risk factors for amblyopia, also known as “lazy eye,” which is the leading cause of vision loss in children. These risk factors including refractive problems (such as hyperopia, myopia and astigmatism); strabismus (sometimes called being cross-eyed); and media opacities, such as cataracts, which can interfere with normal vision.
The iScreen Vision Screener 3000 captures digital images of the red reflex and corneal light reflex images from a child’s eyes. A “normal” red reflex means light passes through the eyes onto retina in a way that creates symmetrical images – oftentimes a reddish color – in both eyes. If the red reflex images are not symmetrical, display a white-colored crescent-shaped reflex, have dark spots or don’t create a red reflex at all, these abnormal red reflex images can all be indications of eye abnormalities which are risk factors for amblyopia.