| Autor: |
Duelund N; Queen Ingrids Primary Healthcare Center, Nuuk, Greenland.; Greeland Center for Health Research, Institute of Health and Nature, Ilisimatusarfik University of Greenland, Nuuk, Greenland.; Department of Ophthalmology, Rigshospitalet, Denmark.; Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark., Nisted I; Danish College of Optometry and Vision Science, Dania Academy, Randers, Denmark.; Department of Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University, Denmark., Frederiksen I; Sisimiut Regional Hospital, Sisimiut, Greenland., Eika Jørgensen M; Greeland Center for Health Research, Institute of Health and Nature, Ilisimatusarfik University of Greenland, Nuuk, Greenland.; Steno Diabetes Center Greenland, Nuuk, Greenland.; National Institute of Public Health, University of Southern Denmark, Copenhagen, Denmark., Heegaard S; Department of Ophthalmology, Rigshospitalet, Denmark.; Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark., Jensen H; Department of Ophthalmology, Rigshospitalet, Denmark.; Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark. |
| Abstrakt: |
Vision screening during childhood is vital for the early detection and treatment of visual impairment that may significantly impact a child's development and quality of life. This nationwide cross-sectional study used data from Greenland's national electronic medical records, including 2,493 six-year-old children from July 2017 to July 2023, to evaluate the coverage rate of vision screening and the prevalence of low vision in Greenlandic schoolchildren. The participation rate in vision screening increased from 43% in 2017 to 61% in 2022, while referral rates to ophthalmologists decreased from 14% to 5%, despite a consistent prevalence of low vision. The mean prevalence of impaired vision (0.3 logMAR / ≤0.50 Snellen decimal) in the better-seeing eye at the vision screening throughout the study period was 3%. At the same time, it was 8% for the worse-seeing eyes, indicating a continuous need for ophthalmological evaluation of the Greenlandic children. This study highlights healthcare delivery challenges in Greenland's sparsely populated areas and emphasises the need for new national guidelines to optimise referral processes. Utilising other healthcare professionals, such as optometrists, for vision screenings and ensuring follow-ups are critical for improving the visual health outcomes of Greenlandic children. |
