[Value of the Bébé-Vision test in the screening of strabismus and anisometropic amblyopia in infants].

Purpose: To evaluate the accuracy of the Bébé-Vision test for detecting strabismic, ametropic and anisometropic amblyopia in childhood.

Methods: We screened 199 infants under 20 months of age. The screening consisted of a full orthoptic examination by a trained orthopist (cover test, fixation test), a forced choice preferential looking technique (Bébé-Vision test) prior to cycloplegia to test visual acuity, cycloplegic refraction by retinoscopy, and examination of the fundi.

Results: Fifteen infants were abnormal on orthoptic examination (clinical evidence of esotropia and/or limitation of abduction and/or amblyopia). The Bébé-Vision test demonstrated a significant interocular difference on the same side of the suspected amblyopic eye in 3 cases and on the opposite side in 3 cases, and no difference in 9 cases. The monocular Bébé-Vision test was abnormal in 51 cases and there was an abnormal cycloplegic refraction in 33 cases. Statistical analysis of these tests demonstrated a very low sensitivity (42%) and a good specificity (90%) for the Bébé-Vision test in detecting amblyopia related to refractive error.

Conclusion: The Bébé-Vision test does not reliably reveal strabismic or anisometropic amblyopia and is not recommended as a screening test. Diagnosis should continue to be based mainly on the classical clinical methods.