Panel Reaffirms Importance of Annual Vision Screenings for Preschool-aged Children

This paper emphasizes the importance of early detection of visual problems in children between the ages of three and six and the need for screening programs to implement comprehensive follow-up systems, as well as data collection systems to track referrals and exam results. Photo: Prevent Blindness. Click image to enlarge. Despite ample evidence supporting the practice of conducting vision screening in young children, there is variability in screening guidelines and a lack of consensus for monitoring and reporting outcomes, according to an expert panel for the National Center for Chil­dren’s Vision and Eye Health (NCCVEH) at Prevent Blindness. The group recently published its latest paper on screening recommendations in Optometry & Vision Science, updating its 2015 recommendations.The updated recommendations were developed through a tar­geted literature review and expert opinion from the advisory committee to NCCVEH; the group emphasized in the paper that children between three and six should be screened annually. Vision screening programs should include observation, monocular distance visual acuity (VA) testing (critical line or full threshold), binocular critical line near VA testing and stereopsis screening.Additionally, instrument-based screening can replace distance VA and stereopsis, but near VA should still be assessed. Color vision deficiency screening is recommended for children with suspected deficiencies or a family history. The committee recommends the following age-dependent VA pass criteria:20/50 or better for three-year-olds 20/40 or better for four-year-olds 20/32 or better for five-year-olds and older Referral is also recommended if there’s an interocular VA difference of two or more linesScreening programs must implement comprehensive follow-up systems to ensure referred children receive eye exams, including educating parents and addressing socioeconomic barriers to care. The committee suggests data collection systems be put in place to track referrals and exam results.Untestable children should be rescreened on the same day, if possible, but no later than two weeks after the initial screening.The experts also say that children with certain conditions, such as strabismus, neurodevelopmental disorders, family history of significant eye problems and premature birth, can bypass screening and be referred directly for comprehensive eye exams.They noted that the NCCVEH will continue to provide vision screening updates at http://nationalcenter.preventblindness.org.Click here for the journal source. Pang Y, Lyons SA, Nottingham Chaplin K, et al. Recommended practices for vision screening in preschool age children: a 2025 update. Optom Vis Sci. August 27, 2025. [Epub ahead of print]. This article was developed by the editorial staff in conjunction with experts in the field. In the process, AI may have been among the editorial tools used to meet the goals of human editors, who approved all content.