BIOS Vision Screening Report: Academic Year 2018-2019

Vision screening in school has long been regarded as an effective way to reduce the prevalence rate of amblyopia induced by strabismus, high refractive error or other causes (Vision in preschool study group, 2003, Solebo, Cumberland & Rahi, 2014, Tailor et al, 2016). Early vision screening can detect the presence of amblyopia whilst it can still be treated, therefore preventing serious permanent visual loss in an early stage of life (Powell and Hatt, 2009).

Despite the importance of early detection of amblyopia being indisputable, the format of vision screening varies. The UK National Screening Committee (NSC), based on available evidence (Hall and Elliman, 2003), recommended that children aged 4-5 should receive vision screening (UK

NSC, 2019). In 2017, a service specification was published by Public Health England (PHE) to guide local authorities (LA) in commissioning vision screening services (PHE, 2017). The specification provided detailed guidance on the evidence-based practice in providing vision screening services. The PHE specification recommended that the service should be orthoptist led; children with best corrected VA less than 0.200 logMAR, measured by Keeler crowded logMAR test, should be referred. Despite the detailed guidance provided by PHE, the level of adherence of

LA in commissioning vision screening has not yet been revealed.

The British and Irish Orthoptics Society (BIOS) Vision Screening Clinical Advisory Group (CAG) is working to improve the quality of vision screening and to ensure best practice across the country. Hence it is paramount to promote the importance of the PHE guideline and to investigate the potential effect it brings. In addition, the 2018-2019 vision screening audit aims at mapping

out current practices of vision screening across the UK and Ireland, identify changes in practice from the previous year and the effect of various factors on the effectiveness of vision screening. The intention is for this audit can facilitate the benchmarking of services and provide evidence to

aid orthoptists and LAs in making informed decisions regarding vision screening commissioning.