Sydney Paediatric Eye Disease Study

Funded Activity Summary

Vision problems in young children can impact on educational attainment, employment opportunities and quality of life. Although severe eye disease is recognised shortly after birth, there are no Australian population-based data on the magnitude, frequency and risk factors for conditions causing moderate or milder levels of visual impairment in one or both eyes, particularly refractive error, amblyopia and strabismus. There is widespread evidence that mild or unilateral visual impairment in young children is frequently unrecognised and that this can sometimes lead to important adverse health outcomes. While recent data suggests that early detection and treatment could reduce development of permanent and more severe disability in the long-term, there is no consensus that screening is cost effective. The proposed study will estimate the frequency and examine risk factors and impacts from a number of childhood vision conditions in over 4,000 children, aged 6 months to under 6 years. The population sample will be derived by performing door-to-door counts of children in a random cluster sample of census districts in the Sydney region, following letter box and media publicity. Based on similar surveys we have conducted, we expect to examine at least 75% of eligible children. They will have detailed vision and eye tests using standardised methods. We will align these to methods used in a large sister US study. The project will have sufficient power to provide accurate and reliable information about conditions affecting vision in young children. These data will inform debate and assist in designing interventions to reduce disability in children from visual impairments. The multidisciplinary team has expertise in epidemiology, paediatric eye disease and in conducting vision assessments, plus a strong track record in population-based research.

Funded Activity Details

Start Date: 01-01-2006

End Date: 01-01-2008

Funding Scheme: NHMRC Project Grants

Funding Amount: $842,122.00

Funder: National Health and Medical Research Council

Research Topics

ANZSRC Field of Research (FoR)

Optometry and Ophthalmology

ANZSRC Socio-Economic Objective (SEO)

There are no SEO codes available for this funding activity

Other Keywords

Amblyopia | Child health | Community child health | Epidemiology | Ophthalmology | Refractive error | Sensory impairment | Strabismus | Vision and eye disease

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