Vision check app increases number of child appointments

The world’s first smartphone vision check app has doubled the number of children attending follow-up optical appointments, according to new research.

The study was carried out by the International Centre for Eye Health at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (LSHTM) across more than 20,000 children in 50 schools in Trans Nzoia County, Kenya.

The Peek Acuity vision check app shows a visual comparison of the child’s sight to clear vision and informs parents and carers of any issues.

Lead author Dr Hillary Rono, an ophthalmologist and PhD candidate at LSHTM, said: ‘It’s vital that we can use the resources we have as efficiently as possible. Today, more than 80% of people in Kenya own a mobile phone, so it makes sense to use this technology to improve the efficiency of our health care system.’