Alison Bruce|Lesley Fairley|Bette Chambers|John Wright|Trevor Sheldon
Impact of visual acuity on developing literacy at age 4–5 years: a cohort-nested cross-sectional study
University of Bradford|University of York|University of Bradford|University of Leeds|University of York|University of Bradford|Hull York Medical School|University of York
h3objectivesh3 estimate prevalence poor vision children aged 45 years determine impact visual acuity literacy h3designh3 crosssectional study linking clinical epidemiological education data h3settingh3 schools located city bradford uk h3participantsh3 prevalence determined 11 186 children participating bradford school vision screening programme data linkage undertaken 5836 born bradford bib birth cohort study children participating bradford vision screening programme bib starting schools programme 2025 children complete data included multivariable analyses h3main outcome measuresh3 visual acuity measured using logmar crowded test higher scorespoorer visual acuity literacy measured woodcock reading mastery testsrevised wrmtr subtest letter identification standardised h3resultsh3 mean sd presenting visual acuity 014 009 logmar range 0010 9 children presenting visual acuity worse 02logmar failed vision screening 4 worse 03logmar poor visual acuity 2 worse 04logmar visually impaired unadjusted analysis showed literacy score associated presenting visual acuity reducing 24 points every 1 line 010logmar reduction vision 95 ci 30 19 association presenting visual acuity literacy score remained significant adjustment demographic socioeconomic factors reducing 17 points 95 ci 22 11 every 1 line reduction vision h3conclusionsh3 prevalence decreased visual acuity high compared populationbased studies decreased visual acuity school entry associated reduced literacy may important implications children9s future educational health social outcomes