Abstract
Purpose :
The objective of this study is to evaluate community vision outreach initiatives for children between 5-11 years in an at-risk urban school districts.
Methods :
This retrospective study will analyze the results of school screenings and examinations in two at-risk urban schools during the 2018-2019 school year. Visual acuity, stereo, and color vision was collected from screenings. Eye examinations will collect refractive errors, visual acuity, and any identified pathology. In addition, through a collaboration with the school districts, additional outcomes will pertain to changes in disciplinary action, attendance, and test scores in math and reading.
Results :
A total of 1,658 children were screened in 11 schools: 308 kindergartners, 293 first graders, 301 second graders, 365 third graders, 371 fourth graders, 6 fifth graders, 7 sixth graders, 3 seventh graders, and 4 eighth graders. Examinations for 503 consented children were performed in the school over one week. The average logmar visual acuity from the screenings was 0.261 OD and 0.258 OS. There were 411 children with vision worse than 20/40, 182 children with vision worse than 20/60, and 82 children with vision worse than 20/100. Stereopsis was failed by 53 students. Additional analysis of types of refractive errors and ocular pathology will be reported. In addition, school evaluation of attendance, disciplinary action, and academic improvements in math and reading will be presented.
Conclusions :
Vision providers collaborating directly with community leaders can bridge the gap to provide care to at-risk populations. Results from this study will demonstrate types of pathology seen, refractive errors, and effects of poor vision on academic success.
This abstract was presented at the 2019 ARVO Annual Meeting, held in Vancouver, Canada, April 28 - May 2, 2019.