Page 97 - DISINVESTMENT AND IMPLEMENTATION OF VISION SCREENING TESTS BASED ON THEIR EFFECTIVENESS

Effect of omission of population-based eye screening at age 6-9 months in the Netherlands
Positive screening and referral
Screened group
Fifty-eight of 6059 children (0.96%) were referred (Table 1). Five (8.6%) were referred for visually apparent problems (eyelid disorder, anisocoria, ptosis, dacryostenosis). Three (5.2%) were referred based on failure of the test. Observed strabismus by either parents or screening physician was the referral reason, after eye examination, in 39 children (67.2%) and the VOV test, as primary screening instrument, in eleven children (19.0%).
In the screened group three children did not comply with referral (5.2%). Referral status is unknown of three children (5.2%).
Unscreened group
Forty-eight of 5482 children (0.88%) were referred (Table 1). Nine (18.8%) were referred for visually apparent problems (eyelid disorder, anisocoria, ptosis, dacryostenosis and infection). One child (2.1%) was referred based on failure of the test. Observed strabismus was the referral reason, after eye examination, in 31 children (64.6%) and the VOV test, as primary screening instrument, in seven children (14.6%).
In the unscreened group three children (6.3%) did not comply with referral. Referral status is unknown of two children (4.2%).
Orthoptic diagnosis
Screened group
From the 52 children who complied with referral, two had a dacryostenosis, one a ptosis. Four children had a refractive problem (astigmatism and/or hyperopia) without amblyopia, six had strabismus without amblyopia. Amblyopia was diagnosed in ten children (0.17%); eight had strabismic amblyopia, two combined mechanism amblyopia. Twenty-six children had neither strabismus nor amblyopia. No refractive amblyopia without strabismus was diagnosed. Diagnosis is unknown in three children (Table 1).
Unscreened group
From the 43 children who complied with referral, four had a dacryostenosis, two a ptosis. Four had strabismus without amblyopia. Amblyopia was diagnosed in six children (0.11%); three had strabismic amblyopia, three combined-mechanism amblyopia. Twenty-six children had neither strabismus nor amblyopia. No refractive amblyopia without strabismus was diagnosed. Diagnosis is unknown in one child (Table 1).
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