Plusoptix photoscreener use for paediatric vision screening in Flanders and Iran.

PURPOSE: Photoscreening assesses risk factors for amblyopia, as an alternative to measurement of visual acuity (VA) to detect amblyopia, on the premise that its early correction could prevent development of amblyopia. We studied implementations of Plusoptix photoscreening in existing population-based screening in Flanders and Iran. METHODS: In Flanders, VA is measured at age 3, 4 and 6, photoscreening was added to existing screening at age 1 and 2.5 years in 2013. In Iran, VA is measured at ages 3-6 years, photoscreening was added at ages 3-6 years between 2011 and 2016. Plusoptix use was analysed in the literature for detection of risk factors for amblyopia and amblyopia itself, for ages 0-3 and for 4-6. A questionnaire, containing seven domains: existing vision screening, addition of photoscreening, implementation in screening program, training, attendance, diagnosis and treatment, and costs was distributed. In Iran, screening procedures were observed on site. RESULTS: Implementation of Plusoptix photoscreening was mainly analysed from questionnaires and interviews, its effectiveness from literature data. In Flanders, of 56 759 children photoscreened at age one (81% of children born in 2013), 9.2% had been referred, 13% of these were treated, mostly with glasses, resulting in an increase of 4-year-old children wearing glasses from 4.7% to 6.4%. In Iran, 90% of children aged 3-6 years participated in vision screening in 2016, but only those who failed the vision test were subjected to photoscreening. CONCLUSIONS: In Flanders, the use of Plusoptix photoscreening at ages 1 and 2.5 resulted in an increase of children wearing glasses, but it remains unknown how many cases of amblyopia have been prevented. Studies are needed to determine the relation between size and sort of refractive error and strabismus, and the increased chance to develop amblyopia.

Clinical outcome of preimplantation genetic diagnosis for cystic fibrosis: the Brussels' experience.

Preimplantation genetic diagnosis is an alternative for prenatal diagnosis that makes it possible to perform the diagnosis of a chromosomal or monogenic disorder at the preimplantation embryo level. Cystic fibrosis is one of the monogenic diseases for which PGD can be performed. In this study, we looked at the requests and PGD cycles for this particular disorder over an 11-year period. Sixty-eight percent of the requests eventually led to at least one complete PGD cycle. In 80% of the cycles, an embryo transfer was performed and an ongoing pregnancy was obtained in 22.2% of the cycles with oocyte retrieval. After embryo transfer, a couple had 27.8% chance of giving birth to a liveborn child. No misdiagnosis was recorded. The rate of perinatal deaths/stillborn children was relatively high, but no excess of major congenital anomalies was observed in the surviving children.