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Oh Say, Can Your Patients See? By Pediatric Ophthalmologist, Pamela Gallin, FACS

Vision loss is a silent disease. Often in children, the loss is asymmetrical; one eye sees a lot better than the other one. This childhood loss accounts for 2%-5% of the adult population. It is estimated that about 20% of all school-age kids have difficulty seeing[1].

AAP Vision Screening Guidelines Prevent Permanent Vision Loss

In January 2016, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) released the “Visual System Assessment in Infants, Children, and Young Adults by Pediatricians”. 1 This comprehensive clinical report is an updated vision screening policy statement for pediatricians. It was co-authored by the AAP and the American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus (AAPOS) among others.

What Is Ocular Photoscreening And Why Are Pediatricians Adopting?

Photoscreening is a pediatric vision screening technique wherein a camera and flash are used to determine refractive errors and identify risk factors for amblyopia. 1 A photoscreener detects amblyopic risk factors such as hyperopia, myopia, and anisometropia and estimates their severity.

How Did Pediatric Associates Meet AAP’s Vision Screening Policy?

Dr. Natasha Burgert is a pediatrician at Pediatric Associates’ (PA) Kansas City office. PA has 17 providers across their 2 locations. She is a national spokesperson for the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), and enjoys educating families on Twitter.