Do phone-based applications accurately measure visual acuity in kids?

A phone-based visual acuity screening tool can provide modest correlation of visual acuity compared to chart screen, according to a study published online in the American Journal of Ophthalmology. It also provided a fair correlation of visual acuity compared to HOTV-Amblyopia Treatment Study protocol.

In this prospective, comparison of visual acuity assessment methods, researchers sought to determine the accuracy and reliability of checking visual acuity remotely as more practices incorporate teleophthalmology due to the coronavirus.

Established pediatric patients (n = 53) from a single practice had visual acuity measured by a family member using GoCheck Kids mobile application, by study personnel utilizing HOTV-ATS, and by an ophthalmic technician using regular clinic protocol.

Wisual acuity as measured by GoCheck Kids at 5 feet had fair agreement with HOTV-ATS, with an average of 1 line worse and very close to the chart acuity.

Reference
Silverstain E, Williams JS, Brown JR, et al. Teleophthalmology: Evaluation of phone-based visual acuity in a pediatric population. Am J Ophthalmol. 2020; DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ajo.2020.08.007