Evaluation of the Effectiveness of the National Vision Screening Program in School-Age Children

Betül Dertsiz Kozan; Mehtap Savar Çağlayan

Article Details

Evaluation of the Effectiveness of the National Vision Screening Program in School-Age Children

Authors:

Betül Dertsiz Kozan | Mehtap Savar Çağlayan

Publisher:

Ataturk University

Main Topics:

Genel Cerrahi

Journal:

Trends in Surgical Sciences Vol.4 Issue 1, pp.18-22

Document Type:

Article

Publication Date:

4/2025

Document Language:

English

Document ID (Org No.):

2001344795

pISSN:

3062-3308

Keywords:

Abstract:

 Objective: Visual defects are common in school-age children and are one of the factors that negatively affect school success. The aim is to evaluate the ophthalmic findings, the effectiveness of the vision screening program in school-age children who are referred to an Ophthalmologist because they have problems as a result of the vision screening program implemented by school counselors. Methods: Our study included demographic characteristics of the patients who applied to the Ophthalmology clinic between January 2023 and December 2024 due to the guidance of the guidance counselor at school, best corrected visual acuity with Snellen chart, dilated and nondilated autorefractometer, eye movements, biomicroscopy and fundus examination, color blindness and additional findings. The family was asked whether the child had been taken to an ophthalmologist before and their knowledge of the vision screening program. Results: 74 cases were included in our study. 38 51.4 of the cases were girls and 36 48.6 were boys. The average age was 6.81.6 4-11 years. 36 48.6 of the cases were emmetropic, 20 27.0 were myopic, 4 5.4 were hyperopic, 10 13.5 were mixed astigmatic and 4 5.4 were astigmatic. Amblyopia was detected in 12 16.2 of the cases, exotropia was detected in 2 2.7, and color blindness was detected in 1 1.3. None of the families stated that they had ever taken their children to an ophthalmologist before. About the vision screening program, 20 27.0 families stated that they knew that it was carried out in schools. None of the families had any information about the vision screening program performed at the family doctor during the preschool period. Conclusion: Implementation of screening vision programs at an early age is important in detecting preventable vision loss. Vision screening before primary school age may be effective in reducing the risk of amblyopia. Providing families with information about the vision screening program may reduce the risk of amblyopia.

 Objective: Visual defects are common in school-age children and are one of the factors that negatively affect school success. The aim is to evaluate the ophthalmic findings, the effectiveness of the vision screening program in school-age children who are referred to an Ophthalmologist because they have problems as a result of the vision screening program implemented by school counselors. Methods: Our study included demographic characteristics of the patients who applied to the Ophthalmology clinic between January 2023 and December 2024 due to the guidance of the guidance counselor at school, best corrected visual acuity with Snellen chart, dilated and nondilated autorefractometer, eye movements, biomicroscopy and fundus examination, color blindness and additional findings. The family was asked whether the child had been taken to an ophthalmologist before and their knowledge of the vision screening program. Results: 74 cases were included in our study. 38 51.4 of the cases were girls and 36 48.6 were boys. The average age was 6.81.6 4-11 years. 36 48.6 of the cases were emmetropic, 20 27.0 were myopic, 4 5.4 were hyperopic, 10 13.5 were mixed astigmatic and 4 5.4 were astigmatic. Amblyopia was detected in 12 16.2 of the cases, exotropia was detected in 2 2.7, and color blindness was detected in 1 1.3. None of the families stated that they had ever taken their children to an ophthalmologist before. About the vision screening program, 20 27.0 families stated that they knew that it was carried out in schools. None of the families had any information about the vision screening program performed at the family doctor during the preschool period. Conclusion: Implementation of screening vision programs at an early age is important in detecting preventable vision loss. Vision screening before primary school age may be effective in reducing the risk of amblyopia. Providing families with information about the vision screening program may reduce the risk of amblyopia.

 Objective: Visual defects are common in school-age children and are one of the factors that negatively affect school success. The aim is to evaluate the ophthalmic findings, the effectiveness of the vision screening program in school-age children who are referred to an Ophthalmologist because they have problems as a result of the vision screening program implemented by school counselors. Methods: Our study included demographic characteristics of the patients who applied to the Ophthalmology clinic between January 2023 and December 2024 due to the guidance of the guidance counselor at school, best corrected visual acuity with Snellen chart, dilated and nondilated autorefractometer, eye movements, biomicroscopy and fundus examination, color blindness and additional findings. The family was asked whether the child had been taken to an ophthalmologist before and their knowledge of the vision screening program. Results: 74 cases were included in our study. 38 51.4 of the cases were girls and 36 48.6 were boys. The average age was 6.81.6 4-11 years. 36 48.6 of the cases were emmetropic, 20 27.0 were myopic, 4 5.4 were hyperopic, 10 13.5 were mixed astigmatic and 4 5.4 were astigmatic. Amblyopia was detected in 12 16.2 of the cases, exotropia was detected in 2 2.7, and color blindness was detected in 1 1.3. None of the families stated that they had ever taken their children to an ophthalmologist before. About the vision screening program, 20 27.0 families stated that they knew that it was carried out in schools. None of the families had any information about the vision screening program performed at the family doctor during the preschool period. Conclusion: Implementation of screening vision programs at an early age is important in detecting preventable vision loss. Vision screening before primary school age may be effective in reducing the risk of amblyopia. Providing families with information about the vision screening program may reduce the risk of amblyopia.

 Amaç: Okul çağı çocuklarında görme kusurları sık rastlanan ve okul başarısını olumsuz etkileyen etmenlerin başında gelmektedir. Okullarda rehber öğretmenleri tarafından uygulanan görme tarama programı sonucunda sorun olduğu belirtilerek Göz Hastalıkları uzmanına yönlendirilen okul çağı çocuklarının göz bulgularının ve görme tarama progmanın etkinliğinin değerlendirilmesidir. Yöntemler: Ocak 2023-Aralık 2024 tarihleri arasında Göz Hastalıkları polikliniğine okuldaki rehber öğretmeninin yönlendirmesi nedeniyle başvuran hastaların demografik özellikleri, Snellen eşeli ile en iyi düzeltilmiş görme keskinliği, damlalı ve damlasız otorefraktometre, göz hareketleri, biyomikroskopi ve fundus muayenesi, renk körlüğü ve ek bulgular incelendi. Aileye daha önce çocuğun göz doktoruna götürülüp götürülmediği ve yapılan görme tarama programı hakkındaki bilgisi soruldu. Bulgular: Çalışmamıza 74 olgu dahil edildi. Olguların 38 51,4i kız, 36 48,6sı erkekti. Yaş ortalaması 6,81,6 4-11 idi. Olguların 36 48,6sı emetrop, 20 27,0si miyop, 4 5,4ü hipermetrop, 10 13,5u mixt astigmat, 4 5,4ü astigmattı. Olguların 12 16,2sinde ambliyopi, 2 2,7sinde ekzotropya, 1 1,3inde renk körlüğü tespit mevcuttu. Ailelerin hiçbirisi çocuklarını daha önce göz doktoruna götürmediğini belirtti. Yapılan görme tarama programı hakkında 20 27,0 aile okullarda yapıldığını bildiğini belirtti. Okul öncesi dönemde aile hekimliğinde yapılan görme tarama programı hakkında hiçbir ailenin bilgisi yoktu. Sonuç: Görme tarama programlarının erken yaşta uygulanması önlenebilir görme kaybının tespitinde önemlidir. İlkokul çağından önce yapılacak görme taraması ise ambliyopi riskini azaltmada etkili olabilir. Ailelere görme tarama programı hakkında bilgi verilmesi ambliyopi riskini azaltabilir.

Article Details

Evaluation of the Effectiveness of the National Vision Screening Program in School-Age Children

Authors:

Betül Dertsiz Kozan | Mehtap Savar Çağlayan

Publisher:

Ataturk University

Main Topics:

Genel Cerrahi

Journal:

Trends in Surgical Sciences Vol.4 Issue 1, pp.18-22

Document Type:

Article

Publication Date:

4/2025

Document Language:

English

Document ID (Org No.):

2001344795

pISSN:

3062-3308

Vision screening program

amblyopia

refractive error

public healthGörme tarama programı

ambliyopi

kırma kusuru

toplum sağlığı

Issues

Article Details

Authors: Betül Dertsiz Kozan | Mehtap Savar Çağlayan

Publisher: Ataturk University

Main Topics: Genel Cerrahi

Journal: Trends in Surgical Sciences Vol.4 Issue 1, pp.18-22

Document Type: Article

Publication Date: 4/2025

Document Language: English

Document ID (Org No.): 2001344795

pISSN: 3062-3308

Issues

Authors:

Betül Dertsiz Kozan | Mehtap Savar Çağlayan

Publisher:

Ataturk University

Main Topics:

Genel Cerrahi

Journal:

Trends in Surgical Sciences Vol.4 Issue 1, pp.18-22

Document Type:

Article

Publication Date:

4/2025

Document Language:

English

Document ID (Org No.):

2001344795

pISSN:

3062-3308