A pinhole is indeed a useful tool for differentiating refractive
error from other causes of poor vision. However, pinhole use has
limitations especially with the elderly and children, and depending on the
size of hole. The important need is to reliably identify that presenting
visual acuity is either "normal" or "abnormal". The easiest way to do this
is to use a visual acuity chart. If it is abnormal (worse than 6/12 in
adults and worse than 6/9 in children) then the individual should be
referred for specialist ophthalmic or optometric opinion.
Competing interests:
None declared
Competing interests:
No competing interests
29 April 2010
Gillian M Cochrane
Doctoral researcher
Rènée du Toit, and Richard T Le Mesurier
CERA, 32 Gisborne St, East Melbourne, VIC 3002, Australia
Rapid Response:
Authors' Reply
A pinhole is indeed a useful tool for differentiating refractive
error from other causes of poor vision. However, pinhole use has
limitations especially with the elderly and children, and depending on the
size of hole. The important need is to reliably identify that presenting
visual acuity is either "normal" or "abnormal". The easiest way to do this
is to use a visual acuity chart. If it is abnormal (worse than 6/12 in
adults and worse than 6/9 in children) then the individual should be
referred for specialist ophthalmic or optometric opinion.
Competing interests:
None declared
Competing interests: No competing interests