Vision screening and the private practitioner--a status report.

Private optometric practitioners have traditionally been involved with schools and other organizations in conducting vision screening programs, although the extent of the involvement varies considerably from one location to another. A national survey of 500 optometrists (49% response rate) was conducted to examine the extent of optometric involvement in screening programs. Seventy percent of the optometrists surveyed have participated in screening during their professional careers although only 30% are currently active. Most screenings were done in the schools with the Modified Clinical Technique (MCT) battery although only 7% knew of perceptual screening activities. The study indicates that in areas where vision screening is conducted, most practitioners are involved and where programs are infrequent, knowledge about screenings is limited.