Visual profiling and vision screening of preschool children in Greenland

A population-based cross-sectional study was conducted in six towns in Greenland to establish normative data on refraction and visual acuity in preschool children and to develop a practical vision screening method suited to Greenlandic healthcare needs. We recruited 274 children born in 2017 through kindergartens in six towns. The only exclusion criterion was known eye disease under ophthalmological care. Vision screening was performed by an optometrist, assessing distance visual acuity with Kay Pictures, binocular near visual acuity with Lea Symbols, stereoacuity with the Lang II Test, and non-cycloplegic refraction using the Plusoptix A12R. An ophthalmologist conducted follow-up examinations, including cycloplegic refraction, within one week. Of 532 eligible children, 274 participated (144 boys, 133 girls; mean age 4.7 years). The mean visual acuity for the worse- and best-seeing eye was 0.05 (±0.16 SD) and 0.01 (±0.12 SD) logMAR, respectively. Cycloplegic myopia (≤-0.5 dioptres) was found in 5%, while 18% had hyperopia >+2.0 dioptres. Most preschool children in Greenland have good visual acuity and mild hyperopia. Vision screening combining the Plusoptix autorefractor and distance visual acuity demonstrated the highest sensitivity (89%) for identifying children needing further evaluation. Implementing this vision screening method in kindergartens is recommended to improve early detection and treatment outcomes.