Parent Questionnaire©  |  Objective Vision Testing  |  Scoring Guidance©  |  Results & Next Steps©

Vision Screening Results & Recommended Next Steps for Caregivers©

After summarizing the recommendations from the Scoring Rubric©, document and discuss the outcomes of the vision screening process. Clearly outline next steps, emphasize the urgency of follow-up care when needed, and ensure caregivers fully understand how to proceed.

If follow-up with an eye doctor is recommended, provide caregivers  with contact information for pediatric eye doctors in Colorado and to the Colorado Optometric Association’s website for further assistance.

Additionally, for children receiving early intervention services, suggest adding an Early Intervention Teacher of the Visually Impaired (EI-TVI) to the care team to assist with coordinating and attending eye appointments, and providing ongoing support and strategies that benefit the child and their family.

Quick Links

• Results & Next Steps© form
  
• Visual Development Guidelines
• How to Prepare for Your Child's Eye Exam
• Questions to Ask Your Eye Care Specialist
• Eye Conditions
  

Process

Enter information into the Results & Recommended Next Steps© form to record all pertinent screening data and follow-up recommendations.

Caregivers will receive a PDF of the form which includes a QR code so they may access the list of pediatric eye doctors in Colorado, if needed. They may save the document and share it with their doctor. An email will also be sent to the vision screening professional who completed the form.

All responses are stored securely on the HIPAA-compliant cloud-based platform.

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Vision Screening Results

Select the appropriate vision screening result.

• No observable vision problems. Annual rescreening or sooner if concerns arise.
• No observable vision problems. However, risk factors are present. Parents are advised to review Colorado Department of Education’s “Visual Development Guidelines” and schedule annual re-screenings. If concerns arise, caregivers should contact a pediatric eye doctor.
  
• Observed vision concerns. Follow-ups with a pediatric ophthalmologist or optometrist are recommended based on urgency.

Detailed Guidance If Vision Concerns Are Observed

Use simple language to explain specific vision concerns, ensuring caregivers understand the need for a follow-up visit. Highlight the need for prompt follow-up care and address any concerns they may have to ensure the caregivers understand the importance of the next steps.

Urgency and Timeframe

Prioritize the most significant concerns and clearly indicate the timeframe and type of eye doctor the caregivers should schedule a follow-up meeting with. If a very urgent concern is identified, it should be highlighted as the primary concern, followed by urgent, non-urgent, and risk factor concerns, respectively.

• If a non-urgent concern is the most significant, then recommend follow-up within 4 to 5 weeks, if possible.
  
• If an urgent concern is the most significant, recommend follow-up within 1 to 2 weeks. 
  
• If any very urgent concern is identified, it should be highlighted as the primary concern and recommend follow-up within 24 to 48 hours. 

Pediatric Eye Doctor Referral

If follow-up with an eye doctor is recommended, help caregivers find contact information for pediatric eye doctors in their community. In every instance, encourage the family to inform their primary care professional about the vision screening results to ensure optimal care for their child and to secure a medical referral if necessary.

If an ophthalmologist is advised, strongly suggest that the family seek vision care from an ophthalmologist, if feasible. If the recommendation includes either an ophthalmologist or optometrist, the family should consider factors such as convenience, personal preference, and location in making their choice. Similarly, if follow-up with any of an ophthalmologist, optometrist, or primary care professional is recommended, the choice should be guided by the family's specific circumstances and preferences.

Consider if the child is already seeing a pediatric eye doctor and consider regional differences regarding the availability of doctors and their preferences for follow-up with an ophthalmologist, optometrist, or primary care professional. This tailored approach helps in making informed decisions based on specific regional healthcare services and individual needs.

In every instance, it's important for the family to inform their primary care professional about the vision screening results to ensure optimal care for their child and to secure a medical referral, if necessary.

Early Intervention Teacher of the Visually Impaired

Additionally, for children receiving early intervention services and vision concerns are present, adding an Early Intervention Teacher of the Visually Impaired (EI-TVI) to the care team is encouraged to assist with coordinating and attending eye appointments and providing ongoing support and strategies that benefit the child and their family.

If the child is not in early intervention and the caregiver has non-urgent concerns, suggest the caregiver discuss their concerns  with an EI-TVI by referring them to [email protected].