Dear editor

The research article titled “UCI EyeMobile Screening Results of School Children Undergoing Onsite Screening” published in Clinical Ophthalmology presents valuable findings regarding the detection and management of uncorrected refractive error (RE) and amblyopia among school children through the UCI EyeMobile program.¹ The study highlights the importance of early detection and intervention in addressing preventable vision loss, which can significantly impact a child’s quality of life and academic achievement. The UCI EyeMobile program offers free vision screening, eye examinations, and eyeglass prescriptions directly at schools, thereby removing barriers related to accessibility and affordability. The program’s efforts have successfully identified a significant number of children with RE and amblyopia, emphasizing the important role of community eye care programs in addressing these issues. In addition, the study discusses the socioeconomic implications of vision care, noting that the demand for services from schools in socioeconomically disadvantaged areas underscores the importance of programs like the UCI EyeMobile in providing accessible and affordable eye care to underserved populations.

The study also touched on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on children’s vision, suggesting that changes in lifestyle factors such as reduced outdoor play time and increased screen time may lead to a shift in refractive errors among school-aged children. Based on the findings of this study, it is clear that the UCI EyeMobile program plays an important role in the early detection, intervention and treatment of vision problems among school children. By offering free examinations and glasses directly in schools, the program overcomes barriers to access to eye care and contributes to better vision outcomes for children in Orange County, California. This research underscores the importance of community-based eye care programs in promoting eye health and preventing vision loss among children, especially in underserved communities.

However, despite these findings, there are some points in the methodology that need further clarification. First, providing additional details on the criteria used to select the sample population of school children who underwent screening would improve the transparency and understanding of the study.² Clear inclusion and exclusion criteria are critical to ensure the robustness and generalizability of the study results. Secondly, including information on the training and qualifications of personnel responsible for conducting vision screening would add valuable context to the expertise involved in the data collection process. Finally, mentioning the measures taken to ensure the reliability and consistency of the screening tests conducted on the children would strengthen the methodological rigor of the study. Addressing these aspects with more clarity and detail will contribute to a more comprehensive and nuanced interpretation of the study findings.

In summary, this study shows that timely detection and treatment of amblyopia can improve visual outcomes and prevent long-term visual impairment.³ Community-based vision screening programs have been shown to be effective in identifying children with vision problems that may otherwise go undiagnosed. Studies on the impact of socioeconomic factors on eye health emphasize the disparity in access to eye health services among different socioeconomic groups. Children from low-income families are at higher risk of uncorrected vision problems due to barriers such as lack of insurance coverage and limited access to eye care providers. Programs like the UCI EyeMobile play an important role in addressing this disparity by offering free vision screenings and eyeglasses directly at schools, thus ensuring that all children have equal access to essential eye care services regardless of their socioeconomic status. In addition, research on the impact of lifestyle changes, such as increased screen time and reduced outdoor activities, on children’s vision is in line with observations made in the UCI EyeMobile study on the potential impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on refractive errors among school-aged children. These findings underscore the importance of monitoring and addressing lifestyle factors that may contribute to vision problems in children, and highlight the need for comprehensive eye care programs such as UCI EyeMobile to adapt to evolving trends in children’s eye health.