Screening vision in a child

vision screening in the UK

All children under 16 years old are eligible for free eye examination by an optometrist (1).

• newborn screening (within 72 hours of birth and again at 6-8 weeks of age)
  • examination of eyes and red reflex
  • aim to identify periocular or ocular abnormality, particularly cataract
    
    
• school entry screening (4-5 years of age)
  • the UK National Screening Committee recommends that screening of children’s eyes should continue to be offered to all children aged 4 -5 years
  • vision screening using optotype vision test, supervised by an orthoptist
  • although refractive error and strabismus would be detected by screening, amblyopia is the most likely condition to be detected in this age defined population (2)

Reference:

• (1) Jefferis JM, Connor AJ, Clarke MP. Amblyopia. BMJ. 2015;351:h5811
• (2) Public Health England. Legacy screening portal. The UK NSC recommendation on Vision defects screening in children