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Background: Certified training must be provided for lay vision screeners prior to their conduct of a vision screening programme. However, the effectiveness of trained lay screeners does deteriorate over time. This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of a recertification vision screening training module using the KieVisionTM Preschool Vision Screening Kit for preschool teachers in Malaysia. Methods: This was a randomised control trial. Fifty-nine preschool teachers previously enrolled in a Knowledge Transfer Programme were divided into a Study Group (n = 31) to receive recertification training and a Control Group (n = 28) to attend briefing sessions. Subjects was then asked to perform vision screening on 15 preschool children aged 4 years old--6 years old at their respective premises, then verified by optometrists after 2 weeks from the initial screening on the same children. Results: A total of 894 children were screened, with the Study Group and Control Group screened 49.7% and 50.3%, respectively. There was higher validity in vision screening findings from the Study Group (sensitivity = 66.7%, positive predictive value (PPV) = 61.5%) compared to the Control Group (sensitivity = 36.0 %, PPV = 40.9%). Conclusion: Teachers who received recertification training were more competent in detecting children's vision impairment using KieVisionTM Preschool Vision Screening Kit. Thus, timely recertification training should be emphasised to ensure sustainable consistency and reliability of vision screening programmes conducted by lay vision screeners. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study is to compare reading performance between visually impaired and normally sighted school children. Participants (n = 299) were divided into three groups: normal vision (NV, n = 193), visually impaired print reader (PR, n = 52), and Braille reader (BR, n = 54). Reading performance was determined by measuring reading rate and comprehension. ANOVA was used to compare the results. A statistically significant difference was found in reading rate between the three groups (p less than 0.0001). The BR had the lowest reading rate compared to other groups. Only a small percentage of the visually impaired children were able to achieve a reading rate within the normal values of normally sighted children. Results of the comprehension test showed no significant difference in the scores of the three groups (p = 0.232). The findings of this study suggests that visually impaired students required a longer time to read and understand a text and this has implications on the time given to them, especially during examinations. (Contains 5 tables and 1 figure.)

Abstract Introduction A number of vision defects have been reported in association with albinism, such as photophobia, nystagmus and astigmatism. In many cases only prescription sunglasses are prescribed. In this report, the effectiveness of low-vision rehabilitation in albinism, which included prescription of multiple visual aids, is discussed. Case presentation We present the case of a 21-year-old Asian woman with albinism and associated vision defects. Her problems were blurring of distant vision, glare and her dissatisfaction with her current auto-focus spectacle-mounted telescope device, which she reported as being heavy as well as cosmetically unacceptable. We describe how low-vision rehabilitation using multiple visual aids, namely spectacles, special iris-tinted contact lenses with clear pupils, and bi-level telemicroscopic apparatus devices improved her quality of life. Subsequent to rehabilitation our patient is happier and continues to use the visual aids. Conclusions Contact lenses with a special iris tint and clear pupil area are useful aids to reduce the glare experienced by albinos. Bi-level telemicroscopic apparatus telemicroscopes fitted onto our patient’s prescription spectacles were cosmetically acceptable and able to improve her distance vision. As a result these low-vision rehabilitation approaches improved the quality of life of our albino patient.

Pattern electroretinogram (pERG) is a recording of retinal response to a phase reversing pattern stimulus. It gives information on the integrity of the inner retina specifically the ganglion cells. The recording of pERG in a laboratory is easily influenced by many factors hence standardization in a laboratory is required to ensure that pERG recorded is repeatable and reproducible. The objective of this study was to determine the factors that could affect pERG recordings at the Electrophysiology Laboratory, Optometry Program, Faculty of Health Sciences (FSK), Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM). This study involved forty-five subjects, aged between 20 and 25 years. They were divided into three groups. The factors being investigated were effects of 1) Alcaine 0.5%, 2) diurnal variation and 3) different size and shape of fixation target for pERG measurement (amplitude and implicit time). Paired t-test showed no significant differences between the recording before and after instillation of Alcaine 0.5% for amplitude (p = 0.116) and implicit time (p = 0.557). Measurements carried out in the morning and afternoon did not show significant differences for amplitude (p = 0.864) and implicit time (p = 0.174). For different fixation targets, results also showed no significant difference for amplitude (p = 0.125) and implicit time (p = 0.404). In conclusion, use of Alcaine 0.5%, different time of measurements and different type of fixation targets do not influence pERG results at the Electrophysiology Laboratory, FSK, UKM. Results of this study can be used for comparisons in research or in diagnosing diseases of the retina in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: To compare visual efficiency, specifically accom-modation, vergence, and oculomotor functions among athletes and non-athletes., Methods: A cross-sectional study on sports vision screening was used to evaluate the visual skills of 214 elementary students (107 athletes, 107 non-athletes), aged between 13 and 16y. The visual screening assessed visual parameters such as ocular motor alignment, accommodation, and vergence functions., Results: Mean visual parameters were compared between age-group matched athletes (mean age 14.82±0.98y) and non-athletes (mean age 15.00±1.04y). The refractive errors of all participants were corrected to maximal attainable best corrected visual acuity of logMAR 0.0. Accommodation function assessment evaluated amplitude of accommodation and accommodation facility. Vergence functions measured the near point of convergence, vergence facility, and distance fusional vergence at break and recovery point. Ocular motor alignment was not statistically significant between both groups. Athletes had a statistically significant amplitude of accommodation for both the right eye ( t =2.30, P =0.02) and the left eye ( t =1.99, P =0.05). Conversely, non-athletes had better accommodation facility ( t =-2.54, P =0.01) and near point of convergence ( t =4.39, P <0.001) when compared to athletes. Vergence facility was found to be better among athletes ( t =2.47, P =0.01). Nevertheless, non-athletes were significantly better for both distance negative and positive fusional vergence., Conclusion: Although the findings are still inconclusive as to whether athletes had superior visual skills as compared to non-athletes, it remains important to identify and elucidate the key visual skills needed by athletes in order for them to achieve higher performance in their sports.

Objective: Compare the performance of Lea Symbols and Sheridan Gardiner charts against the standard test chart used to determine reduced VA during vision screening among pre-schoolers., Material and Method: Seven hundred seventy five pre-school participated where 389 subjects were boys and 386 subjects were girls were tested using the Lea Symbols chart and the Sheridan Gardiner chart. The mean age of the pre-school children was 5.3 +/- 0.7 years old., Results: The Lea Symbols chart showed a higher sensitivity (97.5%) compared to the Sheridan Gardiner chart (57.1%). While the Sheridan Gardiner chart showed higher specificity (92.0%) compared to the Lea Symbols chart (45.0%)., Conclusion: The Lea Symbols chart offers a better pick-up rate of visual impairment during a vision-screening program especially cases of amblyopia among pre-school children compared to the Sheridan Gardiner chart in Malaysia.