2014 updated recommendations for preschool vision screening: Guidelines for Filipino children entering the Philippine public school system

@#In 2004, the University of the Philippines Manila published the Philippine Guidelines on Periodic Health Examination (PHEX): Effective Screening for Diseases among Apparently Healthy Filipinos. 1 The document was envisioned to “contribute… to the quality and efficiency of health care and health maintenance for all Filipinos… It was an appeal for rational medical decision-making, and an important step toward “equitable distribution of health and health resources.” The guidelines were prepared by designated task forces, with vision disorders, specifically vision impairment, and glaucoma identified as areas of interest. PHEX recommendations were drafted using standardized principles and a common protocol, with each statement undergoing four phases of development: (1) preparation of the evidence- based draft; (2) en banc meeting that gave panelists a chance to assess and revise the draft, where issues of feasibility, resource limitations, value judgment, and experts’ opinions were taken into account. A consensus was declared when at least 75% agreed on a recommendation; (3) for unresolved issues, modified Delphi technique was employed by correspondence until a consensus was reached or a maximum of three circulations were accomplished. If still unresolved, the issue was labeled as such and included in the final draft; (4) lastly, a public forum was conducted before the final draft was written. In this manner, the recommendations for Screening for Visual Impairment were written by the Task Force for Vision Disorders.

A study protocol on the situational analysis on the current practice of screening and treatment of Retinopathy of Prematurity (ROP)

Objective@#The study protocolaims to provide an overview of the current practice of screening and treatment of ROP in the selected, to estimate the proportion of childhood blindness due to ROP and assess the number of premature babies at risk for ROP.@*Methods@#The study protocol is a descriptive, cross sectional study design using survey questionnaire to be sent out to pediatric ophthalmologists, vitreo-retina specialists and division heads of the neonatal intensive care units of different hospitals in a selected area. Student records and medical abstracts from local schools for the blind will be obtained and will be reviewed. All qualitative data will be reported by frequency distribution and percentages. Extrapolation on the proportion of ROP in the area will be done. @*Conclusion@#Results from the study can show an overview of the current situation of ROP in a selected area and provide the framework for recommendations for programs aimed providing criteria for timely screening and treatment of ROP to prevent complications such as childhood visual impairment and blindness in the country.