Evidence to support a national model for children's eye care

Purpose: We previously reported a high percentage of eye care outcomes for K/2/4 students in Alabama's annual school vision program. The current report demonstrates a significant increase in the percentage of children receiving Sight Savers eye care through repetitive vision screening and follow-up for identical children in alternating school years. Methods: We provided follow-up eye care to 4,984 identical children referred from k/2 in 07/08 and 2/4 in 09/10 school years. Additionally, we followed a subset of 3,016 of these children for whom contact information was available and their vision was uncorrected at time of screening. Results: In 4,984 children, the percentage wearing glasses at time of screening significantly increased from 20.7% for kindergartners in 07/08 to 40.7% for those same children as 2nd graders in 09/10 (P<0.001). The percentage of 2nd graders in 07/08 was 28.6%, significantly increasing to 46.9% for those same children as 4th graders in 09/10 (p<0.001). The subset of 3,016 children included 1,645 kindergartners in 07/08 and 2nd graders in 09/10. Significantly more children (p<0.001) received eye care as 2nd graders (1,437=87.4%) than as kindergartners (1,236=75.1%). The number of 2nd graders during 07/08 and 4th graders during 09/10 totaled 1,371. Significantly more children (p<0.001) received eye care as 4th graders (1,183=86.3%) than as 2nd graders (1,058=77.2%). We could not verify eye care for the remaining students in both years. Conclusion: Sight Savers' repetitive vision program can serve as a national model for continuous eye care and improved outcomes throughout a child's elementary education.