ArticlePloS one2019
Findings from an opt-in eye examination service in English special schools. Is vision screening effective for this population?
Article in PloS one, 2019. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 20 papers, 2 of them syntheses that pooled it.
What it found
Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.
The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
20 citing papers in PubMed, 2 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 38 citations in OpenAlex.
- Approaches for delivery of refractive and optical care services in community and primary care settings.The Cochrane database of systematic reviews · 2024Pooled it
- Clinical assessment, investigation, diagnosis and initial management of cerebral visual impairment: a consensus practice guide.Eye (London, England) · 2023Guideline
- Barriers to Ophthalmologic Care Reported by Family Caregivers of Users and Non-Users With Intellectual Disabilities.Journal of intellectual disability research : JIDR · 2026Article
- Trends in childhood visual impairment. Insights from a 10-year retrospective study at Alder Hey Children's Hospital.Eye (London, England) · 2026Article
- Current status of school vision screening-rationale, models, impact and challenges: a review.The British journal of ophthalmology · 2025Review
- Challenges and opportunities for inclusive, equitable and accessible school holiday clubs for children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).International journal for equity in health · 2025Article
- Eyes of Understanding: Ophthalmologists' Attitudes Towards Caring for People With Intellectual Disabilities in Clinical and Nonclinical Settings.Journal of applied research in intellectual disabilities : JARID · 2025Article
- Children with Additional Support Needs Risk Missing Out on Effective Vision Screening: Audit and Survey Considering Attendance Rates and Parent Reported Barriers to Service Access, including Recommendations for Improvement.The British and Irish orthoptic journal · 2025Article
- Identification of Suspect-Cerebral Visual Impairment in Children with Special Needs: Moving Towards an Inclusive Diagnostic Process.The British and Irish orthoptic journal · 2025Article
- Prevalence of presenting bilateral visual impairment associated with refractive error - findings from the See4School, pre-school vision screening programme in NHS Scotland.Eye (London, England) · 2024Article
- Eye health knowledge, attitude, and practice among special school managers and barriers to eye health programmes in special schools in Hyderabad, India.PLOS global public health · 2024Article
- Spectrum of Visual Dysfunction Detected by a Novel Testing Protocol Within a Special School Eye Care Service.The British and Irish orthoptic journal · 2024Article
- Evaluation of Virtual Reality Perimetry and Standard Automated Perimetry in Normal Children.Translational vision science & technology · 2023Article
- Visual Behaviours (ViBes) in Cerebral Visual Impairment: Validating a Descriptive Tool to Support Diagnosis and Monitoring.The British and Irish orthoptic journal · 2023Article
- Referral thresholds for an integrated learning disability eye care pathway: a consensus approach.Eye (London, England) · 2022Review
- Eye Care for Children in Special Schools: An Audit of Provision.The British and Irish orthoptic journal · 2021Article
- The Underreporting of Vision Problems in Statutory Documents of Children with Williams Syndrome and Down Syndrome.Journal of autism and developmental disorders · 2020Article
- Visual Status in a Portuguese Population with Intellectual Disability.International journal of environmental research and public health · 2020Article
- Parents and teachers of children in special education settings value in-school eyecare and written reports of visual status.PloS one · 2020Article
- In-school eyecare in special education settings has measurable benefits for children's vision and behaviour.PloS one · 2019Article
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
4 authors at 2 institutions in 1 country.
Funding
Abstract
Our objective was to present the findings of an opt-in, school-based eye care service for children attending 11 special schools in England and use these findings to determine whether a vision screening programme would be appropriate for this population. Data from eye examinations provided to 949 pupils (mean age 10.7 years) was analysed to determine the prevalence and aetiology of visual deficiencies and reported eye care history. For 46.2% (n = 438) of pupils, a visual deficiency was recorded. 12.5% of all the children seen (n = 119) had a visual deficiency that was previously undiagnosed. Referral for a medical opinion was made for 3.1% (n = 29) of pupils seen by the service. Spectacle correction was needed for 31.5% (n = 299) of pupils; for 12.9% (122) these were prescribed for the first time. 3.7% (n = 11) of parents/carers of pupils needing spectacles chose not to use the spectacle dispensing service offered in school. Eye care history was available for 847 pupils (89.3%). Of the pupils for whom an eye care history was available, 44% (n = 373) reported no history of any previous eye care and10.7% (n = 91) reported a history of attending a community optical practice/opticians. Only one pupil from the school entry 4-5 age group (0.6% of age group n = 156) would have passed vision screening using current Public Health England screening guidelines. Children with a diagnosis of autism were significantly less likely to be able to provide a reliable measurement of visual acuity. This study supports previously published evidence of a very high prevalence of visual problems in children with the most complex needs and a significant unmet need in this group. It demonstrates routine school entry vision screening using current Public Health England guidelines is not appropriate for this group of children and very low uptake of community primary eye care services.
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What OpenQuestion holds
Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.