title: Preschool vision testing by health providers in the United States: findings from the 2006-2007 Medical Expenditure Panel Survey.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Few data are available regarding the rate of preschool vision screening. The purpose of this study is to estimate the current rate of vision testing among children ages 3 through 6 years by any health care provider and to the characterize the children reported to have been tested.
  
  
  METHODS
  We conducted a cross-sectional analysis of the 4,237 children aged 3 through 6 years included in either the 2006 or 2007 Medical Expenditure Panel Survey. Household respondents were asked whether selected children ever had vision testing by a doctor or other health provider. Data were weighted to make estimates representative of the civilian noninstitutionalized population.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Overall, 64.9% (95% CI, 62.9%-66.9%) of children 3 through 6 years of age were reported to have ever had vision testing. The likelihood of previous reported testing increased with age, from 42.9% among 3-year-olds to 79.4% among 6-year-olds (P < 0.001). After adjusting for age, family income, insurance status, whether the child had a regular health care provider, and whether the child had special health care needs, we found that lower odds of testing were reported among non-Hispanic white children (odds ratio [OR], 0.73; 95% CI, 0.55-0.97) and among Hispanic children (OR, 0.62; 95% CI, 0.47-0.82) compared with non-Hispanic black children (OR, 1).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These findings highlight the gaps in the delivery of preschool vision screening. Improved population-level surveillance of children's vision and methods to track use of vision-related health services are needed to inform policy makers to develop new strategies to improve care.
authors: Department of Pediatrics, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA. alex.kemper@duke.edu
authors: Alex R
authors: AR
authors: Kemper
authors: David K
authors: DK
authors: Wallace
authors: Nita
authors: N
authors: Patel
authors: John E
authors: JE
authors: Crews
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D002662:Child Health Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D019458:Insurance Coverage; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D014481:United States; D014786:Vision Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000208:ethnology; D014787:Vision Tests / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*