DAY OF SCREENING

 

• Tell the Adventures of Blackbird again.

• Show the children the Screening Specs (occluders). 

• Put a pair on a child and demonstrate how the lenses flip out to allow the child to see with each eye separately.

• Tell them they can have the "Magic Glasses" to take home after the "Blackbird Game."

 

**Have teacher make 2 copies of the Roster/Worksheet (click link below) and fill out, in duplicate, names in alphabetical order and birthdates of the children to be screened.

 

 

 

Sometimes you may not have all the help you need but adjust the following to your available resources to allow for the most efficient screening.

 

Volunteer 1: Following the roster/worksheet, bring children to the screening area.

• While a child is being screened, have 2 children be waiting and preparing to go next.

• Check off names of the children who have completed screening. 

 

Volunteer 2: Assist child who is performing the screening. Bend Screening Specs at the temples.

• Open right lens and place gently on children's ears. 

  • DO NOT bend the front of the glasses

• Upon instruction of the screener, close right lens and open left. 

*If a child is wearing glasses, place Screening Specs over eyeglasses. Also try screening without the glasses on. 

 

Volunteer 3: Sit in a chair close to the screener with the roster/worksheet in hand with a pencil. 

• Record results as dictated by screener in column R (right) and L (left). Example: 20/20, 20/30, etc.

• Under the "comments," note any symptoms observed by staff such as tilting of head, squinting, family history of lazy-eye/wandering-eyed/cross-eyed, etc.

 

Screener: Sit 20 feet (240 in) away from the child and show flashcards in a successive order from largest Blackbird symbol, 20/200, to the smallest. 

• Have the child indicate the direction the bird is flying. **Remember, it can be in reverse as long as it is consistent. 

• Each test card needs to be shown until the child begins to falter. 

This needs to be done quickly; kids have a shorter attention span. 

 

Once a child misses a card, show that card in 3 different directions. Child has to get 2 out of 3 directions correct in order to move on.

If the child fails to read the card correctly, go to the previous card and test that in 3 different directions to ensure the child's acuity. Have this info recorded by Volunteer 3.

Have Volunteer 2 open left lens and repeat with left eye. 

 

**NEVER have Blackbird fly backwards; it can be confusing with the Snellen "E." And REMEMBER, if a child indicates consistent reversals, it is a good test and do not attempt to change his/hers response.

 

 

FOLLOW-UP AND RECORDING

 

It appears that a child needs a professional examination based on the screening results. The parents should be informed as soon as possible.

A phone call or a parent conference would be supplemental along with a written referral noting the screening results.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

WHEN TO REFER A CHILD

 

Refer:

• 3-6 year old children with visual acuity of 20/50 or worse in one or both eyes.

• 6+ years of age with visual acuity of 20/40 or worse in one or both eyes.

• Children who show a 2-line difference in visual acuity between two eyes. Example: 20/30, 20/50, or 20/20, 20/40.

• Children who have eye muscle problems or who have significant complaints reported by teachers and parent which may indicate visual problems such as:

a. Thrusting head forward to see

b. Rubbing eyes frequently

c. Blinking often

d. Tilting Head

e. Stumbling often

f. Closing one eye

g. Complaints of seeing double

h. Complaints of headaches

i. Sensitivity to light

 

WHAT TO EXPECT WHEN GOING TO THE EYE DOCTOR

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

REMINDER:

 

For a printable version of this page click the link below