The results of a large retrospective study of the results of a test of sight in schoolchildren in Tennessee state that children after screening are often prescribed glasses in which they do not need. Sean P. Donahue studied the results of a survey of more than 100,000 children, held in Tennessee from 1997 to 2003, according to an online edition for girls and women aged 14 to 35 years Pannochka. Net Of the 3,640 children who were assigned follow-up, 890 had satisfactory vision. The results were published in the June issue of the Journal of the American Association of Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus. Of the 890 children who were under observation, almost 20% were assigned a spectacular correction. "Projecting" the results of a survey in the state of Tennessee on the United States as a whole, Dr. Donahue estimated that if the cost of one pair of points is $ 150, the annual cost of written unwanted glasses can reach $ 200 million. Dr. Donahue also found that the frequency of writing unnecessary glasses was 35. 1% if the child was examined by an optometrist; eleven. 7% - if the diagnosis was made by an ophthalmologist and 1.8% if the child was checked by an ophthalmologist-pediatrician.

According to a press release published in the journal, Dr.

Donahue's study added to the growing debate on screening - the diagnosis of vision in children. An editorial in the journal notes that the state of Kentucky also allocated a lot of money for the purchase of unnecessary glasses, thus diverting funds allocated for medical purposes from other potential needs. Dr. Donahue's study is "an alarming signal about the true use of the shrinking" medical "dollar and the real price of similar screening diagnostics in children," the editorial notes.

Medicus. En.

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