Evaluation of ‘vision screening’ program for three to six-year-old children in the Republic of Iran.
Indian J Ophthalmol
;
2009 Nov; 57(6): 437-442
Article
in English
| IMSEAR
| ID: sea-135995
ABSTRACT
Background:
Since 1996, vision screening of three to six-year-old children is conducted every year in Iran. We present outcomes of project review held in August 2006. Materials andMethods:
Kindergarten teachers examined vision by using Snellen's illiterate ‘E’ chart. They used torchlight to detect strabismus. On a repeat test, if either eye had vision <20/30, the child was referred to the optometrist. A pediatric ophthalmologist examined and managed children with strabismus or amblyopia. Provincial managers supervised the screening program. The evaluator team assessed the coverage, yield, quality and feasibility, and cost-effectiveness of vision screening, as well as magnitude of amblyopia, and its risk factors.Result:
In 2005, 1.4 million (67%) children were examined in all provinces of Iran. Opticians examined 90,319 (61%) children with defective vision that were referred to them. The prevalence of uncorrected refractive error, strabismus and amblyopia was 3.82% (95% CI 3.79 – 3.85), 0.39% (95% CI 0.38 – 0.40) and 1.25% (95% CI 1.24 – 1.26) respectively. Validity test of 7,768 children had a sensitivity of 74.5% (95% CI 72.7 – 76.3) and specificity of 97.2% (95% CI 96.7 – 97.7). The cost of amblyopia screening was US $ 1.5 per child. While the cost of screening and treating one child with amblyopia was US $ 245.Conclusion:
A review of the vision screening of children in Iran showed it with screening and useful exercise and had a yield of 121. The coverage of vision screening was low and the management of children with amblyopia, low vision and refractive error needed strengthening.
Full text:
Available
Index:
IMSEAR (South-East Asia)
Main subject:
Female
/
Humans
/
Male
/
Child
/
Child, Preschool
/
Vision Screening
/
Amblyopia
/
Blindness
/
Vision, Low
/
Incidence
Type of study:
Diagnostic study
/
Evaluation studies
/
Incidence study
/
Observational study
/
Prognostic study
/
Risk factors
/
Screening study
Country/Region as subject:
Asia
Language:
English
Journal:
Indian J Ophthalmol
Year:
2009
Type:
Article
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