engleski

CROATIAN NATIONAL PREVENTIVE PROGRAM OF EARLY AMBLYOPIA DETECTION

Aim: To present Croatian National Preventive Program of Early Amblyopia Detection, as Croatian contribution to global VISION 2020 initiative launched in 1999 promoting the world in which nobody is needlessly visually impaired. Methods: Between September 2011 - June 2014 Zagreb Amblyopia Preschool Screening (ZAPS) project tested visual acuity of 15, 648 children aged 48-54 months attending kindergartens in the City of Zagreb. Lea Symbols in lines charts were used to test near and distance visual acuity setting the pass cut-off level to ≤0.1 logMAR. 78.04% passed the screening, affirming the age-specific normative threshold for determining abnormal monocular VA. The estimated prevalence of amblyopia in Croatia was 8.08%. Testability rate was 99.19%, with sensitivity and specificity of 100.00 % and 96.68%. Results: Zagreb Amblyopia Preschool Screening study demonstrated amblyopia prevalence of 8.08%, which is within earlier reports on the prevalence of amblyopia ranging 0.8%-10%. Based on the ZAPS study results, Croatian Ministry of Health released National Preventive Program of Early Amblyopia Detection, mandatory for all 4-year-old children. At the age of 48 months the child is referred to an ophthalmologist who performs vision screening by testing visual acuity at near (40 cm) and distance (3 m) binocularly and monocularly using Lea Symbols in line charts. To facilitate the implementation of National Preventive Program of Early Amblyopia Detection and raise awareness among key audiences, Croatian Parliament introduced National Amblyopia Day in 2016, celebrating September 12th. Constitution of Croatian National Amblyopia Registry, released by Ministry of Health as user friendly on-line application in 2017, was of utmost importance to provide high-quality performance of the National Preventive Program of Early Amblyopia Detection. Discussion. Comprehensive eye care strategy can be fully generated only by actively engaged governmental bodies in collaborative activities of successful eye care delivery. Conclusion: The World Bank forecasts that the human population will reach 9.77 billion in 2050. If nothing is done, about 500 million people will be needlessly amblyopic world-wide. To rise level of prevention and treatment programs we advocate the establishment of national amblyopia registries to acknowledge impact of amblyopia more adequately

amblyopia ; Croatian National Preventive Program of Early Amblyopia Detection ; vision 20/20

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