Concern over amblyopia screening rates for children

According to a statent on the AOA website, the recommendations fail to effectively address vision probls among children in the US and are potentially a stumbling block to th getting appropriate eyecare.The USPSTF recommendations stipulate that children aged 3–5 should be screened at least once to detect amblyopia or its risk factors, but the AOA said this does not go far enough.{{quote-A:R-W:450-I:2-Q: Promoting optimal conditions for vision and health requires changes to our current syst of vision health prevention. -WHO:Dr Christopher Quinn, President of AOA}}Instead, it says all children should have a comprehensive vision assessment between the ages of six and 12 months, and a further eye examination between three and five years.In its statent, the AOA criticised the USPSTF for not making any changes since its last update in 2011, despite two “landmark” reports from children’s eye health and vision care experts that stressed the need for more comprehensive eye exams.AOA president, Dr Christopher Quinn, said the failure to update the recommendations would hamper ongoing efforts to combat high rates of preventable and treatable vision loss in children – especially those that are vulnerable or at-risk.“The new recommendation reiterating ‘no change’ appears to overlook the NAS report, which underscored that avoidable vision impairment occurs because of outdated assumptions, missed opportunities and shortfalls in public health policy and healthcare delivery,” Quinn said.“Promoting optimal conditions for vision and health requires changes to our current syst of vision health prevention.”