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Disparities in access to pediatric vision care for school-age children remain a pressing issue in the United States. School-based vision programs (SBVPs) are regarded as a means to advance health equity, especially for disadvantaged students. While SBVPs can be beneficial, these programs are only part of the solution. Interdisciplinary collaborations are needed to strengthen the pediatric eye care delivery system and advocate for broader access to needed eye services. This discussion will frame the role of SBVPs in conjunction with research, advocacy, community engagement, and medical education to advance health equity in pediatric eye care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Children with autism spectrum disorder have a high risk of vision problems yet little is known about their vision care. This cross-sectional survey study, therefore, examined vision care among 351 children with autism spectrum disorder ages 6–17 years in the United States or Canada who were enrolled in the Autism Treatment Network Registry. Vision care variables were vision tested with pictures, shapes, or letters in the past 2 years; vision tested by an eye care practitioner (e.g. ophthalmologist, optometrist) in the past 2 years; prescribed corrective eyeglasses; and wore eyeglasses as recommended. Covariates included sociodemographic, child functioning, and family functioning variables. Multivariable models were fit for each vision care variable. Though 78% of children with autism spectrum disorder had their vision tested, only 57% had an eye care practitioner test their vision in the past 2 years. Among the 30% of children with autism spectrum disorder prescribed corrective eyeglasses, 78% wore their eyeglasses as recommended. Multivariable analysis results demonstrated statistically significant differences in vision care among children with autism spectrum disorder by parent education, household income, communication abilities, intellectual functioning, and caregiver strain. Overall, study results suggest many school-aged children with autism spectrum disorder do not receive recommended vision care and highlight potentially modifiable disparities in vision care. Children with autism are at high risk for vision problems, which may compound core social and behavioral symptoms if untreated. Despite recommendations for school-aged children with autism to receive routine vision testing by an eye care practitioner (ophthalmologist or optometrist), little is known about their vision care. This study, therefore, examined vision care among 351 children with autism ages 6–17 years in the United States or Canada who were enrolled in the Autism Treatment Network Registry. Parents were surveyed using the following vision care measures: (1) child's vision was tested with pictures, shapes, or letters in the past 2 years; (2) child's vision was tested by an eye care practitioner in the past 2 years; (3) child was prescribed corrective eyeglasses; and (4) child wore eyeglasses as recommended. Sociodemographic characteristics such as parent education level, child functioning characteristics such as child communication abilities, and family functioning characteristics such as caregiver strain were also assessed in relationship to vision care. Although 78% of children with autism had their vision tested, only 57% had an eye care practitioner test their vision in the past 2 years. Among the 30% of children with autism prescribed corrective eyeglasses, 78% wore their eyeglasses as recommended. Differences in vision care were additionally found among children with autism by parent education, household income, communication abilities, intellectual functioning, and caregiver strain. Overall, study results suggest many school-aged children with autism do not receive recommended vision care and highlight potentially modifiable disparities in vision care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Diabetic retinopathy is prevalent among American adults with diabetes. Tight control of glycemic levels, BP, and lipids can help reduce patients' risk of developing diabetic retinopathy, which can lead to severe visual loss and blindness if not treated. Teleophthalmology done in primary care offices can increase the number of patients who are screened, saving patients' vision through early detection and treatment of diabetic retinopathy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sight-threatening eye diseases such as strabismus (misaligned eyes) and amblyopia (lazy eye) develop during childhood. The earlier in life these diseases are diagnosed and effectively treated, the greater the chance of preventing irreversible long-term sight loss. Using 2001-14 claims data for nearly 900,000 US children with health insurance, we followed a cohort for up to fourteen years from birth, to assess whether household net worth affected rates of visits to ophthalmologists and optometrists or rates of diagnoses of strabismus and amblyopia. We found considerably lower use of eye care services among children in less affluent families than among those in more affluent ones, resulting in estimates of nearly 13,000 missed strabismus diagnoses and over 5,000 missed amblyopia diagnoses in a ten-year period. Despite ongoing efforts to improve screening rates for serious childhood ocular disorders, more attention should be directed to overcoming economic barriers that keep children from obtaining necessary eye care services. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]