[Value of the Bébé-Vision test in the screening of strabismus and anisometropic amblyopia in infants].

PURPOSE

To evaluate the accuracy of the Bébé-Vision test for detecting strabismic, ametropic and anisometropic amblyopia in childhood.

METHODS

We screened 199 infants under 20 months of age. The screening consisted of a full orthoptic examination by a trained orthopist (cover test, fixation test), a forced choice preferential looking technique (Bébé-Vision test) prior to cycloplegia to test visual acuity, cycloplegic refraction by retinoscopy, and examination of the fundi.

RESULTS

Fifteen infants were abnormal on orthoptic examination (clinical evidence of esotropia and/or limitation of abduction and/or amblyopia). The Bébé-Vision test demonstrated a significant interocular difference on the same side of the suspected amblyopic eye in 3 cases and on the opposite side in 3 cases, and no difference in 9 cases. The monocular Bébé-Vision test was abnormal in 51 cases and there was an abnormal cycloplegic refraction in 33 cases. Statistical analysis of these tests demonstrated a very low sensitivity (42%) and a good specificity (90%) for the Bébé-Vision test in detecting amblyopia related to refractive error.

CONCLUSION

The Bébé-Vision test does not reliably reveal strabismic or anisometropic amblyopia and is not recommended as a screening test. Diagnosis should continue to be based mainly on the classical clinical methods.