Biomedical subjects

G B Erickson

Publications and source records attributed to G B Erickson.

3 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed1999

Prevalence of chief complaints in a pediatric clinic population.

PURPOSE: To determine the type and frequency of chief complaints reported by parents of pediatric patients younger than 8 years of age in an optometry clinic. There have been many reports on prevalence of pediatric eye and vision disorders; however, the frequency of presenting complaints has not been carefully investigated. METHODS: 578 patient charts were retrospectively evaluated to determine the entering chief complaint, representing a 28-month time period between January 1993 and April 1995. The subjects were classified by age, and the chief complaint was placed in one of eight categories. RESULTS: The most frequently reported (30.1%) entering complaint for all subjects was the need for a routine vision examination. Each age category, however, had a unique distribution of complaints. Infants (1 to 11 months of age, n = 24) and young school age children (6 to 7-11 years of age, N = 233) most frequently reported complaints in the "other" category, at rates of 37.5% and 38.2%, respectively. Toddlers (12 to 36 months of age, N = 61) most commonly presented with complaints of an observed eye turn (39.3%), and preschoolers (3 to 5-11 years of age, N = 260) presented mainly for routine vision examinations (48.9%). CONCLUSIONS: There was a large percentage of patients presenting for routine vision care, which may represent an encouraging trend in public education efforts concerning children's vision care needs. The relative frequency of chief complaints in each age category prepares the eye care practitioner to address common parental concerns. This information can help to improve vision care education and services for the pediatric population.

Age Distribution↗

PubMed1999

Testability of a color vision screening test in a population with mental retardation.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to determine the testability of the "Co or Vision Testing Made Easy" color vision test, marketed as a screening test for young children, in a population of individuals with mental retardation. The test uses simple geometric figures that are easily identified. Previously, the test has demonstrated validity as a measure of color deficiency. METHODS: The test was presented to Special Olympic athletes, who are individuals with mental retardation or significant developmental delay, at four sites: the 1997 World Winter Games in Toronto, Canada; the Texas Summer Games in Houston, Texas; the Massachusetts Summer Games in Boston, Massachusetts; and Regional European Swim Competition in Seville, Spain. The criteria for passing was 8 correct responses on the first trial or 9 of 9 on the second attempt. RESULTS: Testability in Toronto, Canada; Houston, Texas; and Seville, Spain was high--95.5%, 98.7%, and 95.7%, respectively. Testability, however, dropped to 78.8% during the Boston, Massachusetts screening. There was no apparent difference in the testing environment that would account for the difference. The overall rate of testability was 93.2% for the 1078 athletes screened. The frequency of males identified as color deficient was similar to that expected in the general population; only two females (in Spain) failed the color vision screening. CONCLUSIONS: The "Color Vision Testing Made Easy" color vision test was successfully completed by a very high percentage of Special Olympics athletes. These results suggest that this test is useful in screening this population for color deficiencies, and that the prevalence of color vision deficiencies is approximately the same in individuals with mental retardation as in the general population.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1992

Vertical diplopia onset with first-time bifocal.

A 39-year-old white female presented with symptoms of constant diplopia onset with a first bifocal correction. The association of these conditions required a careful differential diagnosis and special management considerations. Testing indicated an esotropia with a longstanding nonconcomitant superior oblique paresis which became manifest when she began wearing bifocals. A regimen of horizontal vergence range training in combination with a relieving vertical prism in a near correction were prescribed. An amount of prism which allowed comfortable sensory-motor fusion through both the distance and near portion of a bifocal spectacle correction was eventually ascertained. Information regarding etiology, etiologic incidence, differential diagnosis, and management of superior oblique paresis is also presented.

Adult↗