Comparison of monocular autorefraction to comprehensive eye examinations in preschool-aged and younger children.

Background: Monocular autorefraction is a newly available technology for vision screening that has been advocated to test young children. Such devices automatically determine the refractive state of each eye, but cannot directly detect amblyopia or strabismus.

Objective: To compare the results of a commercially available monocular autorefractor (SureSight; Welch Allyn Medical Products, Skaneateles Falls, NY) with findings from a comprehensive eye examination for significant refractive error, strabismus, and amblyopia.

The effects of a mentoring program on at-risk youth.

This study examined an intensive mentoring program that focuses on youth deemed at-risk for juvenile delinquency or mental illness. Mothers and teachers completed the Child Behavior Checklist, and youth completed the Hopelessness Scale for Children, the Piers-Harris Self-Concept Scale, and the Self-Report Delinquency Scale. The youth (ages 10 to 17) either participated in the mentoring program (intervention, n = 34) or remained on the waiting list (nonintervention, n = 34) for 6 months.