Preschool vision screening: summary of a task force report1
Section snippets
Outcome 1: lack of data on validity and effectiveness of current screening methodologies and programs
The panel expressed concern about the lack of scientific data addressing the validity of currently available screening methodologies, the effectiveness of the programs that are being used to implement these methodologies, and the adequacy of follow-up and treatment of children identified by screening programs. Members acknowledged an urgent need for large-scale, generalizable studies aimed at answering basic questions about the reliability and validity of commonly used screening methods, as
Outcome 2: interim screening recommendations
The panel concluded its work by confronting the question of what recommendations should be made for preschool screening at the present time, before the research outlined above has been completed. Although a variety of recommendations have been published by various organizations5, 24 (Table 1), the panel believe that the recommendations are inconsistent and, therefore, confusing. In particular, as shown in Table 1, different tests are recommended by different agencies with little guidance for
The next step
A critical and unique feature of the expert panel and audience convened for these discussions was the wide range of disciplines represented. Researchers studying early visual development, clinicians (pediatricians, pediatric ophthalmologists and optometrists), various professionals with direct experience in vision screening in the United States and other countries, biostatisticians, epidemiologists, and health care economists all participated. This wide representation was deliberately chosen to
MCHB/NEI task force on vision screening
E. Eugenie Hartmann, PhD, Chair
Steering committee members
Velma Dobson, PhD Louise Hainline, PhD Wendy Marsh-Tootle, OD, MS Graham E. Quinn, MD Mark S. Ruttum, MD
Task force members
Steven Archer, MD, Department of Ophthalmology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI
Sean Donahue, MD, PhD, Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, TN
Gunilla Haegerstrom-Portnoy, OD, PhD, School of Optometry, University of California Berkeley, Berkeley, CA
Richard Harrad, MD, FRCS, Ophthalmology, Bristol Eye Hospital, Bristol, United Kingdom
Emmett Keeler, PhD, RAND Corporation, Santa Monica, CA
Alex R. Kemper, MD, MPH, Department of
Acknowledgements
Photos courtesy of Precision Vision, 944 First Street, La Salle, IL 61301, Phone: 815-223-2022, Fax: 815-223-2224, email: [email protected].
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Cited by (0)
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Previously published in Pediatrics, 106:1105–1116, 2000. Reprinted with permission.
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Current address for E. E. Hartmann, Nova Southeastern University, College of Optometry, Fort Lauderdale, FL.