[Sensitivity of refraction measurement with the infrared videorefractometer VRB 200].

AIM OF THE STUDY

This study investigates the sensitivity of a computerised videorefractor (VRB 200) for refractive errors, especially amblyopiogenic, in babies and infants.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Videopictures from 312 eyes of 156 babies and infants were taken, evaluated and compared with the current measurements (skiaskopy or refractometry) of the university eye hospital Erlangen-Nürnberg.

RESULTS

255 (81.7%) of 312 eyes were evaluable. The VRB 200 achieves a sensitivity of 96.1% in hyperopic eyes (219 of 228 eyes) and 94.7% in myopic eyes respectively (18 of 19 eyes). Of 8 emmetropic eyes 6 were recognized correctly negative. Astigmatism could be estimated coarsely quantitatively in power and qualitativ in the axis with a sensitivity of 80% (92 of 115 eyes) and a specificity of 86% (121 of 140). Anisometropia over 2 dpt was recognized in 5 of 6 patients. A general statement concerning the specificity is not possible with this study, because it is not a mass screening procedure.

CONCLUSION

This videorefractor is able to recognize semi-quantitatively ambylopiogenic refractive errors with high sensitivity.