Objectives
- Illustrate appropriate physical exam techniques necessary for vision screening in the newborn
- Know the visual abilities of normal newborn infants
- Know which conditions may be detected by periodic opthalmoscopic examinations (eg: cataracts, retrolental fibroplasias, retinoblastoma)
- Know how to identify ocular tropias and phorias using the cover test
- Know the importance of differentiating congenital from acquired ptosis
Self-quiz:
- What causes amblyopia and what is the estimated prevalence?
- What vision screening guidelines does the AAP recommend from the newborn period to age 3 years? How about for ages 3-5 years?
- What are the visual abilities of newborn infants?
- Describe how the cover test is conducted.
- What is the difference between ocular tropia and ocular phoria?
- Describe the clinical difference between congenital and acquired ptosis?
- At what age range is the vision system fully developed, and therefore decreased vision can not be improved?
- Intermittent strabismus can be normal in a neonate. After what age should this be considered pathologic?
- When testing a child’s subjective vision in the outpatient pediatric setting, when should a child be referred for further evaluation? At what age is it essential to have a formal visual acuity test?
Helpful links:
Ophthalmology: tropias versus phorias
Ophthalmology Lecture: Amblyopia
Reviewed 10/2017
