{
  "abstract": "Uncorrected refractive error is the leading cause of vision impairment in children globally, and studies have demonstrated that spectacle correction addresses the large majority of childhood vision impairment. Furthermore, trial evidence illustrates the beneficial impact of spectacles on learning, with effect sizes exceeding that of other school health interventions. While it is established that good vision is important for learning and optimising childhood development and quality of life, many countries lack healthcare systems that provide vision screening or universal access to eyecare for all citizens. This review examined school vision screening across several regions/countries, focusing on conditions that should be targeted and the corresponding interventions. The range of international models, the status of global refractive service coverage and measures needed for improvement are discussed. Vision screening protocols need to effectively detect vision impairment, seamlessly connect with intervention services to deliver spectacles and signpost for future access to eyecare. Conditions which may not be treatable with spectacles alone, including amblyopia, strabismus and other ocular diseases, also warrant signposting for treatment. The vision community must unite to urge governments to invest in building service capacity; allocating the necessary resources and effectively developing public health systems to support vision screening and access to eyecare. Schools play a crucial role in enabling population-based vision screening and need to be supported with eyecare interventions and resources. This will ensure optimised approaches to correct avoidable vision loss and provide children with the educational and health outcomes they deserve.",
  "authors": [
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Biomedical Sciences Research Institute, University of Ulster, Coleraine, UK"
      ],
      "name": "Julie-Anne Little"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Centre for Public Health, Queen’s University Belfast, Belfast, UK",
        "Optometry, University of KwaZulu-Natal College of Health Sciences, Durban, South Africa"
      ],
      "name": "Ving Fai Chan"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "National University of Singapore, Singapore"
      ],
      "name": "Seang-Mei Saw"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Ophthalmology, National University of Singapore Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, Singapore",
        "Ocular Epidemiology, Singapore Eye Research Institute, Singapore"
      ],
      "name": "Yih Chung Tham"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "National University of Singapore, Singapore"
      ],
      "name": "Ling Chew"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Singapore National Eye Centre, Singapore"
      ],
      "name": "Li Lian Foo"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Wilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, USA"
      ],
      "name": "Megan Collins"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Public Health, University of Calabar, Calabar, Nigeria",
        "Public Health, Charis Vision and Health Mission, Calabar, Nigeria"
      ],
      "name": "Anne Effiom Ebri"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China"
      ],
      "name": "Xiaotong Han"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK"
      ],
      "name": "Linda Schultz"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Perkins School for the Blind, Watertown, Massachusetts, USA"
      ],
      "name": "Deborah Gleason"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "ELP, Perkins School for the Blind, Watertown, Massachusetts, USA"
      ],
      "name": "Lisa Jacobs"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "LV Prasad Eye Institute, Hyderabad, India"
      ],
      "name": "Winston D Prakash"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Clinical Research Unit, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK"
      ],
      "name": "Priya Morjaria"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "College of Medicine, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, Arkansas, USA"
      ],
      "name": "Samantha Kleindienst Robler"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "College of Medicine, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, Arkansas, USA"
      ],
      "name": "Susan D Emmett"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Clearly, London, UK"
      ],
      "name": "Graeme MacKenzie"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Beijing Tongren Eye Center, Beijing Tongren Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing Ophthalmology & Visual Science Key Lab, Beijing, China",
        "Beijing Institute of Ophthalmology, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China"
      ],
      "name": "Ningli Wang"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "LV Prasad Eye Institute, Hyderabad, India"
      ],
      "name": "Rohit C Khanna"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK"
      ],
      "name": "Donald Bundy"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Centre for Public Health, Queen’s University Belfast, Belfast, UK",
        "Preventive Ophthalmology, Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Guangdong, China"
      ],
      "name": "Nathan Congdon"
    }
  ],
  "title": "Current status of school vision screening—rationale, models, impact and challenges: a review",
  "uid": "2acc54b8-c480-583b-b4d0-a69ee888e49e"
}