Original Article

Preschool Vision Screening in Primary Care after a Legislative Mandate for Diagnostic Eye Examinations

Authors: Alex R. Kemper, MD, MPH, MS, Kathryn E. Fant, MPH, J. Thomas Badgett, MD, PHD

Abstract

Background Kentucky legislation now requires that children entering public school receive a diagnostic eye examination. Methods Mail survey of randomly selected office-based primary care pediatricians (PDs, n = 221) and family physicians (FPs, n = 207) in Kentucky to assess the impact of the mandated eye examination. Results The response rate was 71% PDs and 51% FPs. Most offer preschool vision screening (PD 86%; FP 79%; P = 0.16), but many report they will be less likely to offer it in the future because of the mandated diagnostic eye examination (PD 61%; FP 50%; P = 0.09). Perceived barriers to the diagnostic eye examination include lack of parental knowledge about the requirement, belief by parents that they will need to pay, difficulty in getting an appointment, and lack of endorsement by primary care physicians. Conclusion Most primary care physicians in Kentucky offer preschool vision screening, but many now are likely to reduce their screening effort. Until more data are available regarding the impact of the required eye examination, primary care providers should not change their screening practices.

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