Risk rates for factors placing children visually at risk.

Data from 7569 maternal and child health histories and the vision assessment records of the children were analyzed to determine if exposure to various "risk factors" increased prevalence of ocular anomalies in those children who were exposed. The results indicate higher attributable risk (AR) and relative risk (RR) rates for a number of the factors studied including: maternal use of cigarettes, being born to mothers 19 years and younger at the time of the child's birth, having rubella or mumps between birth and 6 years of age, being male, and other factors. Moderate use of alcohol did not appear to increase the risk of having the visual anomalies. Knowledge of factors placing children visually at risk provides the possibility of prevention by reducing such risks as well as assisting in early detection and care of ocular anomalies.

Differential effects of various causes of deafness on the eyes, refractive errors, and vision of children.

A retrospective study of oculovisual assessment records of the population of three Ontario schools for deaf children assessed the differential effects of various causes of deafness on the prevalence of vision anomalies. Inherited deafness (ID) appears to be associated with the fewest visual anomalies. Congenital rubella (CR) had the greatest prevalence and was associated with the broadest spectrum of ocular and visual problems. It appears to have a significant effect on corneal curvature as well as being associated with anomalies of other organ systems. Children who had had CR, neonatal sepsis (NS), and Rh incompatibility (Rh) all showed higher rates of strabismus and amblyopia. Those who were deaf from meningitis (MEN) or NS showed a tendency to be more hyperopic, whereas the sample with Rh showed a trend toward myopia. The CR children had the broadest range of spherical refractive errors of all the causes of deafness. Children in schools for the deaf are generally those with substantial or profound hearing loss and thus are more likely to have an accompanying vision impairment. Knowledge of the effect on vision of the causes of deafness should aid practitioners in identifying and detecting similar effects on vision when mild or moderate deafness does not require a child's attendance at schools for the deaf.

Vision and refractive status among grade 1 children of the Province of New Brunswick.

A public health program instituted and funded by the Government of the Province of New Brunswick and operated by the Provincial Optometric Association screened 10,464 grade 1 children using a modified clinical technique (MCT). This paper reports the prevalence of refractive and sensory-motor anomalies in large samples of this child population, all of whom were 6 years of age.

The effects of corrective lenses on various behaviors of mentally retarded persons.

A questionnaire was developed to measure changes in certain behaviors at various intervals after correction of refractive errors in a sample of mentally retarded persons. The sample comprised three age groups: 0 to 6 years, 7 to 17, and 18 and above. In each age group, four subgroups were selected--one experimental (new-glasses) group and three control groups. In the group which received new spectacles, changes were recorded in social behaviors, gross and fine motor skills, and reading and writing skills. These changes were most evident in the youngest age group.

The prevalence of refractive and ocular anomalies among 1242 institutionalized mentally retarded persons.

The population of a large Canadian institution, providing rehabilitative and health care for the mentally retarded, received oculo-visual assessments in an optometric clinic established in the hospital by the University of Waterloo, School of Optometry. The ocular and visual anomalies of 1242 residents have been compiled and analyzed. This paper reports the results and discusses their implications. The size of the sample makes the data useful in planning vision care delivery to the mentally retarded. Comparisons are made to similar data obtained from a concurrent study of a community sample and to studies from vision literature.

The influence of a national health policy on optometry and optometric education in Ontario.

Until recently Canada had little or no direction toward forming a National Health Policy. It was not until 1961 that a government agency served as an impetus in establishing a health care program. With this however, came the challenge for optometry to defend itself against the ophthalmological society in an effort to receive its fair share of recognition. Optometry met this challenge, both in the institutional and practical setting. As a result legislation was passed to establish very positive guidelines for the optometric community including the definition of optometry, peer review, standards of practice, continuing education, and the use of diagnostic drugs. Since then, Canada's Minister of Health issued a statement to elaborate on a number of health related issues. In this 1974 statement he emphasized the value of care should be comparable to that of cure. To meet this need a reemphasis on educational training would have to be met. Optometry has looked toward this policy to plan for its future educational objectives and methods of practice. Because these public policies have been formed in a positive way toward optometry the Canadian optometrist will continue to work toward the goal of being a better practitioner within the scope of this Canadian policy.

The AO SR IIItm Subjective Refraction System: comparison with Phoropter measures.

Subjective measures of refractive error were obtained on 530 eyes using the AO SR III Subjective refraction System (operated by a trained secretary) and using a phoropter (operated by optometrists and optometry students) in a clinical setting. Comparison of these measures from the present study and from a previous study by Bannon leads us to conclude that the SR III instrument is capable of estimating refractive error with good agreement with conventional refractive methods. Comparison with the Acuity Systems 6600 Auto-RefractorTM was also made.

Diseases of the uvea - 1975 review.

Papers relating to central serous choroidopathy and clinically similar conditions in the 1975 literature on the uveal tract are reviewed. This disease entity is examined for aspects relevant to optometric practice. Conditions that must be differentiated from central serous choroidopathy are outlined along with diagnostic techniques that may improve detection and diagnosis by optometrists.