Task force recommends primary care vision screening for preschool children

Children younger than 5 years should be screened for vision problems, including amblyopia, strabismus, myopia and hyperopia, in the primary care setting, a government task force recommended.

The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force announced its recommendation in a press release. The findings and recommendations of the task force are published in the May/June issue of Annals of Family Medicine.

The task force is an independent panel of private sector experts sponsored by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, a part of the federal Department of Health and Human Services.

“Screening, including the newer methods available, can help parents and clinicians detect and treat vision problems early,” said Ned Calonge, MD, chairman of the task force, in the press release.

The task force recommended screening in the primary care setting for children younger than 5 years of age for amblyopia, strabismus, and defects in visual acuity. Children found to have one of these conditions should be referred to “a specialized eye care professional” for further testing, the press release said.

To read more about the task force’s recommendations, see the Web site of the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality: http://www.ahrq.gov/