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Vision Screening Guidelines by Age
National Vision Screening Guidelines

Instrument-Based Vision Screening

Best Practices and Research

Children’s Vision and Eye Health
Instrument-Based Vision Screening Guidelines for Children Ages Less than 6 Years

The following information describes instruments approved by the National Center for Children’s Vision and Eye Health (NCCVEH) at Prevent Blindness based on peer-reviewed, published research conducted in a community-based setting.

Instrument

Use with Ages

Comments

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GoCheck Kids

3, 4, and 5 years

Without the visual acuity function.

Approved after publication of the 2015 NCCVEH guidelines.

GoCheck Kids

Plusoptix Vision Screener

1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 years

Without the visual acuity function.

Approved after publication of the 2015 NCCVEH guidelines.

Plusoptix S12C
Plusoptix S12C
Plusoptix S12RPlusoptix S12R
Plusoptix S16
Plusoptix S16

Retinomax

1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 years

Listed in the 2015 NCCVEH guidelines.

RetinomaxRetinomax

Welch Allyn Spot Vision Screener

1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 years

Approved after publication of the 2015 NCCVEH guidelines.

Welch Allyn Spot Vision Screener
Welch Allyn Spot Vision Screener

The following instrument was approved in the 2015 NCCVEH guidelines but is no longer manufactured or supported for updates.

Instrument

Use with Ages

Comments

Image

Welch Allyn SureSight Vision Screener – Software version 2.25

N/A

Listed in the 2015 NCCVEH guidelines.

Welch Allyn SureSight Vision Screener
Welch Allyn SureSight Vision Screener

Recommendation Summary

For citation references, click here

  • Instrument-based screening refers to screening using automated technology.
  • Instrument-based screening identifies the estimated presence and magnitude of refractive error and eye misalignment.
  • Instrument-based screening does not measure visual acuity, does not provide visual acuity values (e.g., 20/40), and results cannot be translated to visual acuity values.
  • Each screening device requires instrument- and age-specific pass/fail refractive error criteria. Abnormal refractive error is a significant risk factor for amblyopia(2) Hyperopic refractive error ≥ 2.00D spherical equivalent, in particular, is associated with a significantly higher risk of esotropia, (26) which by itself is an additional risk factor for amblyopia.
  • Because of the association among amblyopia, strabismus, and uncorrected significant refractive error, screening for refractive error alone is often successful in identifying children with constant strabismus and moderate to severe levels of amblyopia. (29,54)