WASHINGTON, D.C.--The second phase of a National Institutes of Health (NIH) study on children’s vision care, called Vision in Preschoolers, drew varying responses from eyecare organizations.

According to the NIH research, neither trained nurses nor trained lay people using the best screening tests could identify almost one-third of vision disorders--including amblyopia, strabismus and refractive errors--in children in the study.

Both the American Optometric Association (AOA) and the Vision Council of America (VCA)--which have supported comprehensive vision exams for young children, rather than vision screenings--took a differing view of the results from the American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO), which has said pediatricians and family practitioners are often in the best position to identify problems via screenings and refer children to pediatric ophthalmologists for follow-up.

Calling for a policy of “zero tolerance” of children’s vision problems, AOA president Richard Wallingford, OD, called the survey results “staggering and deeply concerning.” Added Wallingford, “Approximately 25 percent of all school-aged children have vision problems. Clearly the prevalence of vision disorders present in children and the limitations of vision screenings support the need for and value of early detection through a comprehensive eye and vision exam by an eye doctor.”

Speaking for VCA, Joel Zaba, OD, who specializes in child development, said, “This study makes it clear why children need a comprehensive vision examination before starting school. The study shows that just 37 percent to 68 percent of vision problems are detected by vision screenings--our children simply deserve better odds when dealing with one of the most important tools they have for learning.”

The AAO, on the other hand, praised the study findings, which concluded that lay screeners trained on vision screening tests perform as well as professional nurses.

”The study affirms ophthalmology’s longstanding position that vision screening is effective when properly performed, and that effective screenings can be done on a cost effective basis,” said Michael Repka, MD, president of the American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus. “If costs are decreased, screenings will be more readily available and can be performed more often, leading to more frequent opportunities to detect vision problems.”