Screening results on the ocular status of 651 prekindergarteners

During the fall and winter of 1978, 651, two-, three-, and four-year-old prekindergarten children were randomly screened to determine their ocular status. The criteria for passing these tests were less critical than those used for primary grade students. Nevertheless, the screening program embraced fairly comprehensive histories, visual acuities, and external and ophthalmoscopic examinations, including extraocular muscle coordination, cover tests, and static retinoscopy. Of these children, 82.8% were black. Only the black group was large enough to constitute an adequate sample, therefore this report deals principally with 524 black 3- and 4-year olds. Most of the findings were within the set limits. One feature of the program was the observation of the behavioral differences in these children.