Vision screening in preschoolers: the New South Wales Statewide Eyesight Preschooler Screening program.

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate screening and diagnostic outcomes of the New South Wales Statewide Eyesight Preschooler Screening (StEPS) program, a state-funded, universal vision screening program for 4-year-old children.

DESIGN, SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS: A cross-sectional evaluation of the StEPS program, in which eligible 4-year-old children were offered a vision screen in local health districts in NSW, between 1 July 2010 and 30 June 2011.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Number and proportion of eligible children who were offered screening; accepted screening; were screened and scored a pass or were referred (routinely or urgently) for further vision assessment; and were referred for further assessment and required intervention.

RESULTS

Of 91 324 eligible 4-year-olds in NSW, 80 328 (88.0%) were offered screening, and 65 834 (72.1% of the eligible population) were screened. Of the children who were screened, 3867 (5.9%) scored less than 6/9-2 but better than 6/18 in one or both eyes and were referred to their general practitioner or eye health professional for further vision assessment. A further 1425 children (2.2%) scored 6/18 or less in one or both eyes and were referred for high-priority assessment. In the two local health districts with the most complete follow-up data, 704 of 779 children (90.4%) with routine referrals and 278 of 285 (97.5%) with high-priority referrals required treatment or review at a later date.

CONCLUSIONS

The StEPS program has achieved a high screening participation rate in NSW. Many children have been diagnosed and received treatment for previously undetected serious vision disorders that may otherwise have been diagnosed too late for effective intervention.