Agreement between a mobile applet-based visual acuity self-test program and the conventional method for distance and near visual acuity tests

Background: To investigate the agreement between a mobile applet-based visual acuity (VA) self-test program and the conventional VA tests.

Methods: This consecutive case series study included 121 children and adults (242 eyes). Patients were classified into three groups according to age (children, adolescents, and adults). They underwent uncorrected distance visual acuity (UDVA) testing, distance visual acuity with available spectacle correction (DVA with ASC) testing at 2.5-m distance, uncorrected near visual acuity (UNVA) testing, and near visual acuity with available spectacle correction (NVA with ASC) testing at a 0.4-m distance using a mobile applet-based VA self-test program and conventional VA tests in two eyes.

Results: Correlations among UDVA, DVA with ASC, UNVA, and NVA with ASC between the two methods were significant in all subjects (all p < 0.001). The intraclass correlation coefficient were 0.960, 0.845, 0.960, and 0.669, respectively (all p < 0.001). The proportions of bias outside the 95% confidence interval limit of agreements were 6.20%, 4.82%, 7.08%, and 6.10%, respectively. There were significant differences in NVA with ASC between the two methods (p < 0.05) in the adolescent group, but no differences in measured parameters were found among children and adult groups.

Conclusions: There is good agreement between the mobile applet-based VA self-test program and the conventional VA tests. The VA self-test has good practical value especially in the current pandemic, allowing self-screening of visual acuity, myopia control, and remote management of visual impairment in ocular morbidity.