Is refraction with a hand-held autorefractometer useful in addition to visual acuity testing and questionnaires in preschool vision screening at 3.5 years in Japan?

The vision-screening program for 3.5-year-old children in Japan consists of 3 steps:questionnaires and home visual acuity testing, visual acuity testing by nurses and inspection by medical officers at regional Public Health Centers, and examinations by ophthalmologists. In this study, we tested refraction with a hand-held autorefractometer in addition to visual acuity testing and inspection to reveal whether or not autorefraction leads to better detection of eye problems.

Detection of strabismus and amblyopia in 1.5- and 3-year-old children by a preschool vision-screening program in Japan.

All children at the age of 1.5 and 3 years in Japan undergo physical, mental, and developmental checkups including dental, eye, and hearing examinations. The vision-screening program consists of 3 steps : questionnaires and home visual acuity testing as the first step (only for 3-year-old children), visual acuity testing by nurses and inspection by medical officers at regional Health Centers as the second step, and detailed examinations by ophthalmologists as the third step.