Socio-economic patterns of vision problems in the San Francisco preschool population: A case-control study

It has been established that vision problems in the preschool population can result in lifelong visual impairment and may also interfere with learning. This case-control study examined possible socio-economic factors that might identify children at high risk for undetected vision problems. Using screening results of 5,000 pre-schoolers from a San Francisco vision-screening program, rates of children with vision problems were compared with rates of children without vision problems. The data was analyzed by geographic location of the preschool attended within San Francisco and was also analyzed by the type of preschool attended: low-income, public, private or parochial. Study results revealed a statistically significant rate of undetected vision problems in the middle-income districts compared to low-income districts in the City. Analysis of the screening results also indicated that preschoolers from all socio-economic backgrounds are at risk for undetected vision problems, but children from low-income backgrounds may face greater challenges to having their vision problems diagnosed and treated.