Authors' objectives:

To assess the effects of screening for impaired visual acuity in primary care settings in preschool-aged (1 to 5 years) children.

Authors' recommendations: Direct evidence on effectiveness of preschool vision screening for improving visual acuity or other clinical outcomes remains limited and does not adequately address whether screening is more effective than no screening. In terms of indirect evidence, a number of screening tests appear to have utility for identification of preschool-aged children with vision problems, and treatments for amblyopia or unilateral refractive error (with or without amblyopia) are associated with mild improvements in visual acuity compared with no treatment. Additional studies are needed to better understand effects of screening compared with no screening, to clarify the risk for potential unintended harms from screening (such as use of unnecessary treatments), and to define the optimal time at which to initiate screening during the preschool years.

Project Status: Completed

URL for project: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK52708/pdf/TOC.pdf

Year Published: 2011

URL for published report: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK52708/

English language abstract: An English language summary is available

Publication Type: Not Assigned

Country: United States

Organisation Name: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality

Contact Address: Center for Outcomes and Evidence Technology Assessment Program, 540 Gaither Road, Rockville, MD 20850, USA. Tel: +1 301 427 1610; Fax: +1 301 427 1639;

Contact Name: martin.erlichman@ahrq.hhs.gov

Contact Email: martin.erlichman@ahrq.hhs.gov

Copyright: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ)