Validity of vision screening program conducted by preschool teachers: An interventional study

BACKGROUND: Clear vision is crucial for effective learning among preschool children. Hence, early detection of vision impairment and prompt treatment are required to improve prognosis. Currently, limited information is available, and no program exists to screen for vision impairment among preschoolers in Bangladesh. This study aimed to validate the KieVision™ Preschool Vision Screening Kit, translated into the Bengali language, to improve vision impairment detection among preschool children.

METHODS: In this prospective case-control study, 60 preschool teachers from Chittagong were randomly selected. The study group was trained to conduct vision screening among preschool children using the translated kit, whereas the control group was trained using the Chittagong Eye Infirmary and Training Complex (CEITC) School Teachers' Training Module. Fifteen preschool children aged 4-6 years were screened by each preschool teacher and again by the optometrist.

RESULTS: Sixty preschool teachers screened 900 children. The results showed a higher validity of vision screening findings by the preschool teachers in the study group (sensitivity, 68.00%; specificity, 92.75%) than in the control group (sensitivity 47.37%, specificity 70.39%). The level of agreement between the preschool teachers and optometrists was high for all tests (first-order agreement coefficient [AC1] ≥ 0.80 in the study group). The sensitivity and specificity of the visual acuity test for the study group were 59.65% and 94.15%, respectively, while in the control group it was 13.33% and 62.54%, respectively. A similar trend was noted in the general observation component and Hirschberg's test.

CONCLUSIONS: The Bengali Language KieVision™ Preschool Vision Screening Kit can be used effectively by preschool teachers in vision screening programs to improve the identification of vision impairment among preschool children in Bangladesh.