A Comprehensive Overview of Vision Screening Programmes across 46 Countries.

Area of Science:

• Ophthalmology and Public Health
• Global Health Surveillance
• Pediatric Vision Care

Background:

• Vision screening programs are essential for early detection of visual impairments in children.
• Significant international variations exist in the implementation and scope of these programs.
• Optimizing screening strategies requires a comprehensive understanding of current practices.

Purpose of the Study:

• To systematically describe and compare global vision screening programs.
• To identify variations in screening tests, timing, personnel, monitoring, and funding.
• To provide data for optimizing, disinvesting, or implementing future screening programs.

Main Methods:

• A comprehensive questionnaire was distributed to Country Representatives across 47 nations.
• The questionnaire covered nine domains including program details, screening practices, and outcomes.
• Data was collected and analyzed from 46 participating countries.

Main Results:

• Significant variability was observed in screening ages (0-17 years), tests used (23 types), optotypes (35), personnel involved (13 cadres), and frequency of screening.
• Infant and childhood vision screening is widely offered, with all 46 countries screening between ages 3-7 years.
• Quality assurance data was largely unavailable, with complete evaluation data from only 2% of countries.

Conclusions:

• Vision screening practices are highly heterogeneous across different countries and regions.
• While some form of visual acuity testing is common in childhood, standardization is lacking.
• Enhanced data collection and sharing are imperative for effective comparison and optimization of global vision screening programs.