Publication: Bruckner Red Light Reflex Test in a Hospital Setting
Date
2012
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Kathmandu university
Abstract
ABSTRACT
Background
Childhood blindness is a major problem in developing world including Nepal that
needs to be addressed.
Objective
The objective of study was to measure the effectiveness of the Bruckner red reflex
test for screening of posterior segment opacities in children.
Methods
Patients aged less than five years who came to the Tilganga Institute of
Ophthalmology, Kathmandu from March to August, 2009 were recruited in this
cross-sectional descriptive study. Children were screened with the Bruckner red
light reflex test in a dark room. Patients with abnormal Bruckner tests had their
eyes dilated for further investigations. Abnormalities were recorded. The number
of patients with an abnormal Bruckner test was recorded and correlated with their
potential pathology.
Results
A total of 172 patients with 97 boys and 75 girls were included. Twenty-three had
abnormal Bruckner test results in either one or both eyes. Four of these twenty-
three patients had no pathology diagnosed; hence the sensitivity of the Bruckner
screen to diagnose significant pathology was calculated at 82.6%. Of the 153
patients with normal results, two patients were found to have pathology detected,
which included cataract and strabismus. Hence, the specificity of this test was
98.7%. The screening test had a positive predictive value of 90.5% and a negative
predictive value of 97.4%.
Conclusion
Bruckner test screening is a sensitive and specific marker for detecting the posterior
segment opacities in children. We recommend utilizing the test to evaluate these
problems where other technologies are rare.
KEY WORDS
Nepal, Red flex test, Retinoblastoma, Screening
Description
Saiju R,1 Yun S,2 Yoon PD,2 Shrestha MK,1 Shrestha UD1
1Tilganga Institute of Ophthalmology, Kathmandu, Nepal
2Faculty of Medicine, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia