Vision Screening in Preschoolers (VIP)
Principal Investigator, Elise B. Ciner, OD
Study Coordinator, Angela D. Duson
Funded by the National Eye Institute
The Vision Screening in Preschoolers (VIP) Study is a long-term, multi-center study which has a primary goal of determining if there are vision screening tests that can reliably predict those three or four year olds who would benefit from a comprehensive vision exam. An anticipated 10,000 children, participating in the nationwide Head Start Program, will be screened. Currently methods used for screening preschool children vary tremendously and their accuracy has not been well documented. This study will show which vision screening tests are best for preschoolers.
Vision problems are the most prevalent handicapping conditions in children. Early detection of vision problems can prevent loss of vision and/or decrease their negative impact.
Vision in Preschoolers Study (VIP) Reaches Second Phase
The
Vision in Preschoolers (VIP) Study reached its second phase as doctors,
nurses and lay screeners recently attended a two-day training session at
the Pennsylvania College of Optometry to be trained in the testing
methods being evaluated for the project.
The VIP Study is a national, multi-site clinical study to evaluate vision-screening tests for identifying preschool children in need of comprehensive eye examinations. The goal of the VIP Study is to determine if pediatric nurses and lay screeners can perform effective vision screenings of preschool children, and which test or tests are most effective in identifying children in need of eye exams.
For Dr. Elise Ciner, Associate Professor at PCO and Principal Investigator for the project, the end goal of the VIP Study is "to empower communities in areas where there are not eye care professionals readily available." Phase I of the study established which screening tests were effective when performed by licensed eye care professionals, either optometrists or pediatric ophthalmologists. Phase II will evaluate the performance of these tests when administered by nurses and lay screeners. The project targets preschoolers in the Head Start program at risk for vision disorders.
A training team from the executive committee of the study initiated
Phase II with a training session on the tests chosen from Phase I. Four
nurses and five lay screeners were chosen from a pool of applicants
based on: an ability to work well with children, an understanding of the
testing technology and a professional manner. All of the participants,
according to Dr. Ciner, were "very enthusiastic and excited," and "doing
a terrific job."
The VIP project actually began nine years ago at a research symposium sponsored by the American Academy of Optometry and the American Optometric Association. Dr. Ciner, who has always been interested in research, and pediatric research, in particular, was involved in the long-running project from the beginning. In 1997, Ciner oversaw the feasibility study for the project, which was conducted in Philadelphia.
Also working on the study at PCO are Angela Duson, the Study Coordinator, and Lydia Parke, Assistant Project Coordinator, who manage the day-today operations of the study, while Lynn Rosenbach, R.N., B.S.N., Health Coordinator for the study, facilitates the movement of children through the program with the Head Start nurses.
In Philadelphia for Phase I, 325 children were evaluated. Between 300 and 325 children will be screened during Phase II. Children who failed the regular Head Start screenings, as well as number of children who passed, will be chosen. The project is also being conducted at five other sites across the country.