Vision and Eye Screening in Finland an Overview

Abstract

In Finland the public health authorities recommend that a child's visual development should be checked four times during the first year of life, then once a year. During the first year attention is paid to developmental delays and to development of normal eye muscle control. Photorefractive screening of infants between ages 9 to 18 months is recommended but not yet executed except for a few limited pilot studies.

At four and six years, testing includes visual acuity measurement using a line test at a distance of three meters, Hirschberg's test, and a cover test. Screening of deaf children and children with cerebral palsy requires new techniques. Screening of mentally retarded children uses informal play situations and new tests such as BUST-LH playing cards and LH-DOMINO plus involvement of day care personnel in observation. Screening at school age is for refractive errors. Introduction of the near visual acuity test has decreased the number of referrals.