1. Irish Primary School Vision Screening
Rate of Response to Referrals
Measurement of Referral Accuracy

2. Screenings 4 BSc Optometry undergraduates and one qualified supervisor
10 schools (9 of which are designated disadvantaged)
Results from 2 years of screenings

3. Referrals
Children found to have failed the screening were given a letter.
Free tests in the National Optometry Centre

4. Year 1 Letter only 380 children screened 87 (23%) referred
40 (46% of those referred) attended for a full test
34 (39% of those referred) did not attend and were not under any other eyecare practitioner.

5. Year 2 Letter and phone call 288 children screened 49 (17%) referred
33 (67% of those referred) attended for a full test
14 (29% of those referred) did not attend and were not under any other eyecare practitioner.

6. Comparison with other Studies
Rate of referral
Junghans et al (2002) 19.9%
Thomson, Evans (1999) 19.6%
Response to referral
Donahue et al (2000) approx 50%

7. Referral Accuracy
Reasons for referrals were compared with outcomes of full tests (n = 73)
84% of referrals were accurate
Hu et al 2011 accuracy of orthopists’ screenings: 81% accurate for VA and 94% accurate for ocular alignment.

8. Conclusions
Some children are still not being seen by an ECP professional even after failing screening(s)
Recommendation: parent education
In under-resourced healthcare systems alternative approaches as to who might undertake screenings should be investigated.

9. Thank You