Parental Compliance with Preschool Vision Screening Test

Objective: To assess the barriers to parental compliance with preschool vision screening tests and the recommended follow-up eye care. Methods: This prospective study included children aged 3–6 years attending 46 preschools. Parents were asked for consent for their children to participate in a vision screening test. Parents whose child did not participate due to lack of parental consent and parents whose child failed the screening test were contacted by telephone and given a standardized questionnaire to identify potential barriers to compliance. Results: A total of 1511 children (mean age 4.76 years ± 0.76, 51.3% boys) were eligible for vision screening. Consent was given by the parents of 1295 children (85.7%). Lack of consent in children who had never been examined by an ophthalmologist was primarily due to unawareness of the screening test or other logistical reasons (117 cases, 92.1%). Of the children screened, 140 (11.1%) failed the test and 80.0% of their parents adhered to the recommended follow-up eye care. Parents who followed the screening vision test recommendations were more likely to be native language speakers (82.8% vs. 58.8% mothers and 88.9% vs. 60.0% fathers; p = 0.049 and 0.015, respectively). There was a higher chance of at least one parent being native-born if recommendations were followed (90.6% vs. 58.8%, p = 0.004). All other factors tested were insignificant. Conclusions: Parental consent and cooperation with vision screening test and its recommendations were high. Migrant families are more likely to face challenges in following vision screening test recommendations, underscoring the need for tailored approaches for specific populations.