If you rely on the MTI Photoscreener to detect strabismus and refractive errors in pediatric patients, you may want to consider this update.

One hundred children underwent MTI photoscreening and a complete eye examination. Observers graded the photographs for strabismus according to the location of the corneal light reflexes, and for refractive error according to the size and location of the light crescent.

The sensitivity of the MTI Photoscreener in detecting amblyogenic factors was 80% to 91%, with a specificity of 20% to 67%. For specific amblyogenic factors, the specificity and sensitivity were:

• Strabismus
  sensitivity 23% to 50%
  specificity 76% to 96%
• Myopia
  sensitivity 89%
  specificity 48% to 76%
• Hyperopia
  sensitivity 20% to 80%
  specificity 88% to 96%
• Astigmatism
  sensitivity 46% to 77%
  specificity 79% to 89%

The authors believe these results should make doctors cautious about relying on photoscreening to detect strabismus and refractive errors in children.