A survey of vision screening policy of preschool children in the United States

A state-by-state survey regarding preschool vision screening guidelines, po licies, and procedures Tvas conducted. Currently 34 states provide vision s creening guidelines and 15 states require vision screening of at least some of their preschool-aged children. The Department of Public Health administ ers the programs in 26 states, the Department of Education in 13. A wide ra nge 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 tes ts is recommended in 24 states. Currently, 45 states do not require screeni ng of all preschool children. Thus, although laws, guidelines, and recommen dations exist in most states, many preschool-age children do not have acces s to vision screening programs. (Surv Ophthalmol 43:445-457, 1999. (C) 1999 by Elsevier Science Inc. All rights reserved.).