Scope for improving congenital cataract blindness prevention by screening of infants (red reflex screening) in a New Zealand setting

Abstract

Objective: To assess the coverage and quality of routine red reflex screening in a single region and to consider the results in the context of the current New Zealand guidelines. Methods: All the health practitioners partaking in routine Well Child - Tamariki Ora checks in the Nelson-Tasman region were asked to complete a simple one-page questionnaire on red reflex screening. Results: Out of 127 providers potentially involved in routine infant examinations, the response rate was 92%. Red reflex screening was not being performed at the appropriate routine infant check with an ophthalmoscope by 16% (10/61) of the general practitioners and 29% (10/35) of the midwives. Eighteen per cent of the doctors and 47% of the midwives did not understand why red reflex screening was important or what was being looked for. Conclusions: There is substantial scope for improving the coverage and quality of red reflex screening in this region to meet national guidelines. The importance and technique of examining the red reflex should be stressed in the training of both doctors and midwives who are lead maternity carers in New Zealand.