PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - Kemper, Alex R.
AU  - Margolis, Peter A.
AU  - Downs, Stephen M.
AU  - Bordley, W. Clayton
TI  - A Systematic Review of Vision Screening Tests for the Detection of Amblyopia
DP  - 1999 Nov 01
TA  - Pediatrics
PG  - 1220--1222
VI  - 104
IP  - Supplement 6
4099  - http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/content/104/Supplement_6/1220.short
4100  - http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/content/104/Supplement_6/1220.full
SO  - Pediatrics1999 Nov 01; 104
AB  - Objective. To review the test characteristics and the quality of evidence regarding available screening tests for the detection of amblyopia in preschool-aged children to help primary care practitioners select a screening strategy.Design. Systematic review of published studies.Data Sources. The MEDLINE database was searched from 1966 through January 1999 using a broad and inclusive strategy. A total of 9551 citations were identified.Study Selection. All studies that compared the results of commercially available screening tests in preschool-aged children to ophthalmologic examination.Data Extraction. The setting of the study, the age of the population, the type of screening test, criteria for a positive screen, criteria for the ophthalmologic examination, test characteristics, and measures of reliability were abstracted by 2 reviewers for each selected study.Data Synthesis. Four eligible articles were identified that studied the test characteristics of 3 screening tests. None of these studies were performed in a primary care setting. Each study used different criteria for failure of the ophthalmologic examination. None of the studies measured observer or test reliability.Conclusions. Few high-quality data exist regarding the performance of preschool vision screening. Important future work should include the development of a consensus gold standard ophthalmologic examination and evaluation of screening tests in the primary care setting.