Prep vision screening

Last week I was invited to speak to the team of nurses who run the Prep Vision Screening program here in Queensland, about testing vision and eye health in children with complex disability and additional needs. We had a great session, with lots of really good questions. I thought I’d talk a bit about the prep screening program here in QLD.

'Butterfly' design occluding glasses used for testing vision in each eye at a time.

Who can access the program?

Any child enrolled in their Preparatory year within the state of Queensland can access the program.

What is the purpose of the Prep Screening Program?

If a child cannot see things clearly, then this will negatively impact on their ability to learn. The problem is that children are used to seeing the world the way they see it, and they may not realise if their vision isn’t clear, since this is just how it has always been.

Reduced vision can affect children's concentration, and coordination, and a lot of younger children won’t be able to articulate if they are having issues, instead, they may start misbehaving, so behaviour problems can be due to unidentified vision issues.

A further benefit of the program is to detect amblyopia. Amblyopia is where vision in one eye is reduced. It can often go undetected, because the vision in the other eye is good, and we don’t usually walk about with only one eye open.

What happens during the screening?

Children are asked to match letters on a chart and a small machine is used which takes a picture of their eyes.

What happens afterwards?

Results are sent to parents via the school. If a problem is detected, parents get a call from the nurse to discuss referring your child to an optometrist or ophthalmologist.

Does my child still need an eye test if they pass the vision screening?

Yes. The vision screening is a great program and helps to identify and treat lots of vision issues, but having a comprehensive eye test, where eye health can be assessed much more fully is always recommended.