title: A survey of vision screening policy of preschool children in the United States.
abstract: A state-by-state survey regarding preschool vision screening guidelines, policies, and procedures was conducted. Currently 34 states provide vision screening guidelines and 15 states require vision screening of at least some of their preschool-aged children. The Department of Public Health administers the programs in 26 states, the Department of Education in 13. A wide range of professional and lay personnel conduct preschool vision screenings, and nurses participate in the screening process in 22 states. Visual acuity is assessed in 30 states, eye alignment in 24 states, refractive error in eight states, and color vision in 10 states. A combination of screening tests is recommended in 24 states. Currently, 45 states do not require screening of all preschool children. Thus, although laws, guidelines, and recommendations exist in most states, many preschool-age children do not have access to vision screening programs.
authors.affiliation: Pennsylvania College of Optometry, Philadelphia, USA.
authors.forename: E B
authors.initials: EB
authors.lastname: Ciner
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Dobson
authors.forename: P P
authors.initials: PP
authors.lastname: Schmidt
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Allen
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Cyert
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Maguire
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Moore
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Orel-Bixler
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Schultz
mesh_terms: D002675:Child, Preschool; D017408:Guidelines as Topic; D019538:Health Care Surveys; D006291:Health Policy; D006801:Humans; D016134:Organizational Policy; D012572:School Health Services; D013219:State Government; D014481:United States; D014786:Vision Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis*; D015351:Vision Screening / Q000458:organization & administration* / Q000592:standards / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014787:Vision Tests / Q000379:methods