childhood vision screening in UK
Last reviewed 01/2018
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)
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