Vision Screening and Vision Loss-Related Conditions Among American Indian or Alaska Native Children.
American Indian/Alaska Native children had higher amblyopia rates despite similar screening.
Vision Screening and Vision Loss-Related Conditions Among American Indian or Alaska Native Children.
IMPORTANCE: Early vision screening plays a critical role in detecting and treating vision loss-related conditions in children.
To measure annual rates of vision screening at well-child care (well-child care) visits and the prevalence of vision loss-related conditions among children aged 3 to 17 years, focusing on American Indian or Alaska Native children.
DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: This cross-sectional study used patient-level electronic health record data from a large Minnesota-based health system and included children aged 3 to 17 years with at least 1 well-child care visit between January 1, 2018, and December 31, 2023.
American Indian/Alaska Native children had this share diagnosed with amblyopia, higher than others
The annual vision screening rate at well-child care visits was 88.7% (95% CI, 88.6%-88.8%), with small differences by race and ethnicity and insurance type and larger differences by age.
Rates were lowest among those aged 3 to 5 years.
In this cross-sectional study of children aged 3 to 17 years, American Indian or Alaska Native children experienced a higher burden of vision loss-related conditions despite comparable screening rates; across all race and ethnicity groups, screening rates were lowest among young children.
These findings highlight opportunities to strengthen early vision screening and to better understand factors associated with observed inequities in pediatric vision health.