Screening for eye disease: Why and how?

Weinstein Professorship
Screening for Eye Disease: Why and How?

Presented by
Mohamad S. Jaafar, MD, FACS, FAAP
The Dorothy, Jay, Kara and Mark Weinstein Professor and
Chief of Ophthalmology, Children’s National Hospital
Professor of Ophthalmology and Pediatrics,
The George Washington University

In a time of value-based care, limited resources and insurance restrictions and incentivization, when to refer and to whom - the hospital based-subspecialist or the Community Ophthalmologist or Optometrist - become of crucial clinical significance. Examples of few systemic diseases will be used to illustrate the importance of ophthalmic examination to help diagnose and steer the proper management of children.

Instrument-based Vision screening for the detection of strabismus and amblyogenic factors has been endorsed by the AAP, AAPOS and AAO, for young and non-verbal children. The principle and practical implications of different machines, their logistics, work flow and billing codes that are important factors to incorporate Vision Screening in a pediatric practice will be addressed.

Learning Objectives:
Attendees of this session will be able to:

1. Identify systemic diseases where an Ophthalmology consultation may be helpful in confirming diagnosis and fashioning proper and timely management
2. Recognize the importance of Vision Screening in toddlers and children
3. Identify the age-appropriate vision screening methods, the validated screening instruments and the logistics and financial implications on their practice