Clinical Ophthalmology (Jun 2024)
UCI EyeMobile Exam Findings from School Children Following on-Site Screening
Abstract
John D Hong,1 Elliot H Choi,1 Susie Suh,1 Joseph H Bui,1 Annabelle M Storch,1 Kimberly R Walker,1 Kourosh Shahraki,1 Carolina Yanez,1 Diana Torres,1 Jennifer Espinoza,1 Iliana Molina,2,* Donny W Suh1,* 1Gavin Herbert Eye Institute, Department of Ophthalmology, University of California, Irvine, CA, USA; 2Shiley Eye Institute, Department of Ophthalmology, University of California, San Diego, CA, USA*These authors contributed equally to this workCorrespondence: Donny W Suh, Gavin Herbert Eye Institute, Department of Ophthalmology, University of California, Irvine, 850 Health Sciences Road, Irvine, CA, 92697, USA, Tel +1 949 824-4122, Email [email protected] Iliana Molina, Shiley Eye Institute, Department of Ophthalmology, University of California, San Diego, 9415 Campus Point Dr, San Diego, CA, 92037, USA, Tel +1 858 822-2585, Email [email protected]: Uncorrected refractive errors (REs) and amblyopia can lead to visual impairment with deleterious effects on quality of life and academic performance. Early detection and treatment by community vision care programs, such as the UCI EyeMobile for Children, can aid in addressing preventable vision loss.Methods: A total of 5074 children between the ages of 3 and 10 years were screened at 153 locations, including preschools, head start programs, and elementary schools within Orange County (OC), California (CA). Subsequently, 1024 children presented for comprehensive eye examinations. A retrospective analysis of all examined children was conducted, determining the frequency and severity of REs and amblyopia and the spectacle prescription rate by age. Propensity score matching analysis evaluated the effect of median household income on RE and amblyopia frequency.Results: Among those who failed initial screening and were subsequently examined, significant rates of REs and amblyopia were detected: myopia (24.4%), hyperopia (35.4%), astigmatism (71.8%), anisometropia (8.9%), amblyopia (7.0%), and amblyopia risk (14.4%). A majority (65.0%) of those examined received prescription spectacles from UCI EyeMobile, with around a third requiring a new or updated prescription. The frequency of REs and amblyopia and the spectacle prescription rate were uniform across OC congressional districts. Myopia and amblyopia risk was positively and negatively associated with household income, respectively.Conclusion: The UCI EyeMobile for Children serves as a vital vision care program, providing free vision screening, comprehensive eye examinations, and spectacles. A significant number of children required examination, and a high frequency of REs and amblyopia were detected in examined children, with subsequent provision of prescription spectacles to most children.Keywords: pediatrics, refractive error, amblyopia, spectacles, mobile clinic, screening
