[Childhood vision disorders. Screening programs in international comparison]

Worldwide in a number of countries, screening programs aimed at detecting visual disorders in children are established. Repeatedly, proposals are brought forward to optimize already existing programs. Countries without such a program are interested in learning about current models as a guide for planning their own program. This study was performed to take stock of the screening programs for visual dysfunction in children in existence in the years 1999-2000 worldwide. The aspects considered were the child's age at examination, examiner's qualification, type of examinations performed, cost-bearing entity, and cost-efficacy analysis. The health ministries of 190 sovereign countries were asked via a questionnaire for information about possibly existing screening programs. The results of the survey were analyzed quantitatively regarding geographic, political, and socioeconomic aspects, yielding data for the exchange of experience in optimizing existing programs and developing new programs.