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Vision screenings aim to identify students with possible vision problems. As part of a Baltimore school-based vision care program, screenings were conducted for all students, including those in state-mandated grades and nonmandated grades (2-7), in 82 schools. From 2016-18, 32650 pre-K to 8th grade students from Baltimore schools underwent vision screenings (distance acuity, Spot photoscreener, stereopsis, and alignment) by Health Department staff. [Extracted from the article]

Purpose: Amblyopia is the most common cause of unilateral visual impairment. This study investigated parents' awareness of amblyopia in different regions of Saudi Arabia. Methods: This was a cross-sectional population study. The survey consisted of two main sections; the first section contained 13 general background questions, and the second section (10 questions) focused on awareness of amblyopia, routine vision checks and how to raise awareness of amblyopia in the community. The survey was distributed to respondents using email and social media. Results: The responses of 1649 families were received. Respondents' age range was from 22–62 years (mean ± standard deviation = 33.6 ± 8.7 years). Most respondents had no previous knowledge of amblyopia (1155 participants, 70%), and 313 participants (19%) had no idea if their children had amblyopia. In total, 990 participants (60%) did not visit the eye clinic with their children for a routine eye exam. A total of 495 parents (30%), who were aware of amblyopia, knew of it mainly from eye clinic visits and from Internet websites. A total of 140 respondents reported that their children had amblyopia; 58.3% of those children underwent routine eye examinations once a year, and the rest underwent routine eye examinations twice a year. Conclusion: The results clearly showed a lack of amblyopia awareness among the Saudi community. This lack of awareness can lead to visual impairment among children. More efficient efforts are urgently needed from health professionals, education centres, the media and social organizations to promote awareness of amblyopia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Deep learning has recently gained high interest in ophthalmology due to its ability to detect clinically significant features for diagnosis and prognosis. Despite these significant advances, little is known about the ability of various deep learning systems to be embedded within ophthalmic imaging devices, allowing automated image acquisition. In this work, we will review the existing and future directions for 'active acquisition'–embedded deep learning, leading to as high-quality images with little intervention by the human operator. In clinical practice, the improved image quality should translate into more robust deep learning–based clinical diagnostics. Embedded deep learning will be enabled by the constantly improving hardware performance with low cost. We will briefly review possible computation methods in larger clinical systems. Briefly, they can be included in a three-layer framework composed of edge, fog, and cloud layers, the former being performed at a device level. Improved egde-layer performance via 'active acquisition' serves as an automatic data curation operator translating to better quality data in electronic health records, as well as on the cloud layer, for improved deep learning–based clinical data mining. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Older adults in residential aged care facilities have unnecessarily high levels of vision impairment (VI) which are largely treatable or correctable. However, no current comprehensive eye health service model exists in this setting in Australia. We aimed to determine the clinical, person-centered, and economic effectiveness of a novel eye care model, the Residential Ocular Care (ROC).Methods/design: This protocol describes a multicentered, prospective, randomized controlled trial. A total of 395 participants with distance vision < 6/12 (0.30 LogMAR) and/or near vision N8 (1.00 M) or worse will be recruited from 38 urban and rural aged care facilities across Victoria, Australia. Aged care facilities will be randomized (1:1) to one of two parallel groups. Participants in the ROC group will receive a comprehensive and tailored eye care pathway that includes, as necessary, refraction and spectacle provision, cataract surgery, low vision rehabilitation, and/or a referral to an ophthalmologist for funded treatment. Usual care participants will be referred for an evaluation to the eye care service associated with the facility or an eye care provider of their choice. The primary outcome will be presenting near and distance vision assessed at the two- and six-month follow-up visits, post baseline. Secondary outcomes will include vision-specific quality of life, mobility, falls, depression, and eye care utilization at two and six months. An incremental cost-effectiveness analysis will also be undertaken.Discussion: The ROC study is the first multicentered, prospective, customized, and cluster randomized controlled trial in Australia to determine the effectiveness of a comprehensive and tailored eye care model for people residing in aged care facilities. Results from this trial will assist health and social care planners in implementing similar innovative models of care for this growing segment of the population in Australia and elsewhere.Trial Registration: Australian and New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry, ACTRN12615000587505 . Registered on 4 June 2015 - retrospectively registered. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Importance: National data on eye health‐care service utilization will inform Australia's eye health policy. Background: To investigate the utilization of eye health‐care services by Australians. Design: Cross‐sectional survey. Participants: Indigenous Australians aged 40 years and older and non‐Indigenous Australians aged 50 years and older. Methods: One thousand seven hundred thirty‐eight Indigenous Australians and 3098 non‐Indigenous Australians were recruited from 30 randomly selected sites, stratified by remoteness. Sociodemographic, ocular history and eye health‐care service utilization data were collected, and an eye examination was conducted. Main outcome measures: Recentness of eye examinations, types of providers used and associated risk factors. Results: Approximately 67.0% of Indigenous Australians and 82.5% of non‐Indigenous Australians underwent an eye examination within the previous 2 years. Indigenous status (P < 0.001), male gender (P < 0.001), Outer Regional (P < 0.001) and Very Remote (P < 0.001) residence were associated with less recent examinations. Participants with >self‐reported eye disease or diabetes were most likely to have been examined within the past year (P < 0.001). For Indigenous Australians, older age was associated with recent eye testing (P = 0.001). Those with retinal disease and cataract were more likely to see an ophthalmologist (P < 0.001), and those with refractive error were more likely to see an optometrist (P < 0.001). In Regional Australia, non‐Indigenouspeople were more likely to see optometrists (P < 0.001), and Indigenous Australians were more likely to utilize other, non‐specialistservices (P < 0.001). Conclusions and relevance: Eye examination frequency has improved in Indigenous and non‐Indigenous Australians compared with previous population‐based research. Further improvements are required in risk groups including Indigenous Australians and those living in Regional and Remote areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents a brief report of the results of an equity profile conducted for a semi-rural, relatively affluent population to establish the differences in eye health care and enhanced optometry scheme. The study involved 2,794 patients in the CHANGES glaucoma referral refinement scheme between August 200-June 2011. It finds that equity profiling is a quick and inexpensive way for health professionals and commissioners to understand and meet the needs of these patients.