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A visual profile of Queensland Indigenous children
journal contribution
posted on 2016-03-01, 00:00 authored by S Hopkins, Geoff SampsonGeoff Sampson, P L Hendicott, J M WoodPURPOSE: Little is known about the prevalence of refractive error, binocular vision, and other visual conditions in Australian Indigenous children. This is important given the association of these visual conditions with reduced reading performance in the wider population, which may also contribute to the suboptimal reading performance reported in this population. The aim of this study was to develop a visual profile of Queensland Indigenous children. METHODS: Vision testing was performed on 595 primary schoolchildren in Queensland, Australia. Vision parameters measured included visual acuity, refractive error, color vision, nearpoint of convergence, horizontal heterophoria, fusional vergence range, accommodative facility, AC/A ratio, visual motor integration, and rapid automatized naming. Near heterophoria, nearpoint of convergence, and near fusional vergence range were used to classify convergence insufficiency (CI). RESULTS: Although refractive error (Indigenous, 10%; non-Indigenous, 16%; p = 0.04) and strabismus (Indigenous, 0%; non-Indigenous, 3%; p = 0.03) were significantly less common in Indigenous children, CI was twice as prevalent (Indigenous, 10%; non-Indigenous, 5%; p = 0.04). Reduced visual information processing skills were more common in Indigenous children (reduced visual motor integration [Indigenous, 28%; non-Indigenous, 16%; p < 0.01] and slower rapid automatized naming [Indigenous, 67%; non-Indigenous, 59%; p = 0.04]). The prevalence of visual impairment (reduced visual acuity) and color vision deficiency was similar between groups. CONCLUSIONS: Indigenous children have less refractive error and strabismus than their non-Indigenous peers. However, CI and reduced visual information processing skills were more common in this group. Given that vision screenings primarily target visual acuity assessment and strabismus detection, this is an important finding as many Indigenous children with CI and reduced visual information processing may be missed. Emphasis should be placed on identifying children with CI and reduced visual information processing given the potential effect of these conditions on school performance.
History
Journal
Optometry and vision scienceVolume
93Issue
3Pagination
251 - 258Publisher
Lippincott Williams & WilkinsLocation
Philadelphia, Pa.Publisher DOI
eISSN
1538-9235Indigenous content
This research output may contain the names and images of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people now deceased. We apologise for any distress that may occur.Language
engPublication classification
C Journal article; C1 Refereed article in a scholarly journalCopyright notice
2016, American Academy of OptometryUsage metrics
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Accommodation, OcularChildChild, PreschoolFemaleHumansInfantMaleOceanic Ancestry GroupOcular Motility DisordersPrevalenceQueenslandRefractive ErrorsSickness Impact ProfileStrabismusSurveys and QuestionnairesVision DisordersVision TestsVision, BinocularVisual AcuityVisually Impaired PersonsScience & TechnologyLife Sciences & BiomedicineOphthalmologyAustralian Indigenous childrenschoolchildrenrefractive errorbinocular visionvisual information processingvisual impairmentMOTOR INTEGRATIONVISUOMOTOR INTEGRATIONDEVELOPMENTAL TESTPOPULATIONHEALTHASSOCIATIONSCOMMUNITIESAUSTRALIANS
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