Visual acuity testability in African-American and Hispanic children: the multi-ethnic pediatric eye disease study.

PURPOSE

To compare the age- and gender-specific testability rates for the Amblyopia Treatment Study (ATS) HOTV visual acuity testing protocol using the electronic visual acuity (EVA) tester in African-American and Hispanic preschool children.

DESIGN

Population-based, cross-sectional study.

METHODS

Measurement of presenting monocular distance visual acuity using the ATS HOTV protocol was attempted in all African-American and Hispanic children aged 30 to 72 months from the population-based Multi-Ethnic Pediatric Eye Disease Study (MEPEDS). Children able to be tested monocularly in both eyes were considered able. Age-, gender-, and ethnicity-specific testability rates were calculated. Comparisons of testability among different groups were performed using Chi-square analyses and the Cochran trend test.

RESULTS

Testing was attempted on 3,126 children (1,471 African-American, 1,655 Hispanic; 50% female). Overall, 84% (83% African-American, 85% Hispanic; 86% female, 82% male) were testable. Older children were more likely to complete testing successfully than younger children (P < .0001). Age-specific testability in children 30 to 36 months of age, 37 to 48 months of age, 49 to 60 months of age, and 61 to 72 months of age was 39%, 84%, 98%, and 100%, respectively. After stratifying by age, there were no ethnicity-related differences in children testable (P = .12). Girls (86%) were slightly more likely to be testable than boys (82%; P > .003).

CONCLUSIONS

Monocular threshold visual acuity testing using the ATS HOTV protocol on the EVA tester (Jaeb Center for Health Research, Tampa, Florida, USA) can be completed by most African-American and Hispanic preschool children, particularly those older than 36 months of age. This protocol therefore may be used in minority preschool children as an integral part of the diagnosis and management of amblyopia and other forms of visual impairment.