ABSTRACT
The purpose of the RAMSES study is to evaluate the effectiveness and the efficiency of amblyopia screening activities as they are actually performed in Rotterdam child health care, during a follow-up period of 8 years. 4637 children born between September 1996 and May 1997 in Rotterdam have been included in the study. Vision screening data are collected at 7 occasions or ‘rounds’. In children aged 9–24 months, vision is tested with the VOV-method, in children aged 3–7 visual acuity is assessed. The data of the first 5 rounds (up to the age of 4) have now been analysed. Some preliminary results will be presented here. We found that compliance with screening decreases with age, and that only part of the referred children visit the ophthalmic centre for further assessment. Our conclusion is that referral procedures after a positive test result must be improved.
