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Background: Uncorrected refractive error (URE) is the leading cause of preventable blindness and global vision impairment (VI) with relatively high prevalence among school aged adolescents and children. Timely detection and correction may prevent the development of amblyopia, strabismus and enhance school success in these age group. Aim: The aim of this study was to compare the refractive error measurements of Smartphone-based auto refraction with tabletop auto refraction and retinoscopy among adolescents attending eye clinic of Enugu State University of Science and Technology Teaching Hospital Parklane (ESUTTHP); Enugu, with a view to determining if portable Smartphone-based auto refraction can serve as a reliable alternative to tabletop auto refraction and Retinoscopy. Methods: This was a hospital-based comparative cross-sectional study done over ten month period on 292 adolescents (584 eyes) aged 13-19 years with refractive errors attending eye clinic of the Hospital. Patients were selected by simple random sampling after which non-cycloplegic and cycloplegic refractive measurements of their eyes were performed using the three study instruments (Smartphone-based autorefractor (SBAR), Tabletop autorefractor (TTAR) and Retinoscope). The mean spherical values (SV) and spherical equivalent values (SEV) were determined and compared using ANOVA. Data entry and analysis were done using SPSS version 23. Results: The mean age of the study participants was 16.6+0.76years, (age range 13-19years) comprising162 (55.5%) females and 130(44.5%) males; in the ratio of 1.3:1. Students constituted majority of the study participants 150 (51.4%). In non-cycloplegic state, 430 (73.6%) eyes were found to have refractive errors according to study definition (≥ 0.50 D); comprising 44 (7.5%) of myopia, 28 (4.8%) of hypermetropia, 264 (45.2%) of myopic astigmatism and 94 (16.1%) of hypermetropic astigmatism. But in cycloplegic state, 461(78.9%) eyes comprising 31(5.3%) of myopia,30 (5.1%) of hypermetropia, 320(54.8%) of myopic astigmatism and 80(13.7%) of hypermetropic astigmatism were found. The NETRA Smartphone-based auto refractor was found to measure refractive errors in adolescents as effectively as tabletop auto refractor both in non-cycloplegic and cycloplegic states but could not measure up to retinoscopy in both states.
ES et al. (Fri,) studied this question.
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