Nurses, non-doctors good in eye scanning

ROCKVILLE, Md., Jul 26, 2005 (United Press International via COMTEX) -- Scientists say trained nurses and non-medical personnel can be as adept at vision screenings of preschoolers as are optometrists and ophthalmologists.

Researchers measured the accuracy of vision screenings conducted by trained nurses and laypersons -- non-medical personnel -- during a one-year period. A sample group of more than 1,400 children, ages 3 to 5 years, were screened using the Retinomax Autorefractor, the SureSight Vision Screener, and two forms of the Linear Lea Symbols VA Test.

Conditions targeted for identification were amblyopia, strabismus, significant refractive error and reduced visual acuity in the absence of amblyogenic conditions. The screenings were conducted at Head Start program facilities.

The research showed the 43 VIP Study-trained nurses and laypeople using the Retinomax Autorefractor and the Suresight Vision Screener conducted screenings with the same degree of accuracy as optometrists and ophthalmologists. The Lea Symbols Visual Acuity screenings produced more accurate results when administered by an optometrist or ophthalmologist.

However, when the format of the test was changed to present isolated, crowded Lea Symbols at a closer distance, non-medical personnal were reportedly as accurate as the eye care professionals using the original test.

The findings appear in the August 2005 issue of Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science.