Evaluation of Euscreen - Vision Screening – Data

AIMS: The EUSCREEN study aims to compare vision and hearing screening programs for children in all EU states by using a cost-optimization model.A model-developed vision screening program has been tested in the county of Cluj in Romania.The ultimate goal would be to implement a nationwide vision screening program designed to detect visual deficiencies in children.METHODS: 98 nurses trained by UMF Cluj examined children aged 4 and 5 in public and private kindergartens and in rural family doctors' offi ces in 2018 and 2019: 6951 children were examined in Cluj-Napoca, 2677 children in the other 5 municipalities in the county and 3241 children were tested in the rural areas.RESULTS: In the city of Cluj-Napoca 49 nurses from public kindergartens and 4 nurses and 1 doctor from the private kindergartens were enrolled in the project.They examined 6951 children (74% of the eligible).In the fi ve smaller cities 23 nurses examined 2677 children (76% of the eligible).In the rural areas 3241 children (47% of the eligible) were examined by 33 screeners: 2 travelling nurses, 2 family doctors, 29 family doctors nurses.12080 children were fi rst examined using the E charts while 789 children were examined using the Lea charts.On the second examination 125 children were examined using the E charts and 210 using the Lea charts, and on the third examination 24 children were examined using only Lea charts.From the 12869 examined children 11328 children had a normal visual acuity for their age, while 1507 children were referred for an ophthalmologic Acknowledgement