PROS Pearls:

* A 1992 study done by PROS suggests that the majority of attempts to screen 3-year olds for vision problems lead to interpretable results. This finding led to a revision of the recommendation for age of first preschool vision screening by the AAP Committee on Practice and Ambulatory Medicine (COPAM). COPAM now recommends such screening begin at 3 years of age.

* Study results also indicate that communications about abnormal results with the parents of children who have failed vision screening is often unsuccessful. Results of a questionnaire administered two months after the visit indicated that 50% of those parents did not understand that their child had a problem.

* Practitioners should insure that all preschoolers under their care are screened for vision problems starting at age 3 and that results of abnormal vision screening tests are communicated effectively to parents.