Results

After one reminder, 365 (73%) paediatricians returned completed questionnaires (205 consultants, 102 hospital paediatric trainees, and 58 CMOs). Of these respondents, 272 indicated that they were responsible for examinations of neonates and 200 for examinations of infants aged 6–8 weeks: the percentage of these respondents reporting seeking the ophthalmic disorders specified in the national recommendations1 2 for infants aged up to 8 weeks is shown in fig 1 (consultants) and fig 2 (hospital juniors and CMOs). There were no substantial or consistent differences between the these two groups or between community versus hospital based paediatricians. Congenital cataract was the most frequently sought disorder at both examinations by all groups.

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Figure 1

Percentage of consultants seeking specific abnormalities in neonates and infants aged 6–8 weeks. *Includes all congenital eye anomalies, for example microphthalmos and coloboma; †not applicable in neonates.

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Figure 2

Percentage of hospital based paediatric trainees and CMOs seeking specific abnormalities in neonates and infants aged 6–8 weeks. *Includes all congenital eye anomalies, for example microphthalmos and coloboma; †not applicable in neonates.

A fifth of all respondents (75) and a third (32) of hospital paediatric trainees reported receiving no training in the ophthalmological examination of infants. Of those reporting some training, 57% had received this only as postgraduates and 16% only while undergraduates. Respondents had been trained in ophthalmic examination by a senior paediatrician (80%), an ophthalmologist (41%), an orthoptist (18%), or a paediatric trainee colleague (4%) with a quarter receiving training from more than one source. The majority (92%) of these respondents had received some practical training with 46% reporting receiving some formal teaching in addition. Overall 71% (248) of all responding paediatricians (57% of consultants, 81% of hospital trainees and CMOs) considered they would benefit from further training by an ophthalmologist. Most sought practical training only (49%) or combined with formal teaching (40%).

Discussion

Serious sight or life threatening ocular disorders, such as congenital cataract, congenital eye anomalies, retinoblastoma and glaucoma, are uncommon, with a combined prevalence of the order of 0.5 per 1000 births.1 The main purpose of routinely examining young infants to detect such disorders is to ensure that effective treatment and relevant medical and educational advice and support for the family of the affected child, are provided at the earliest opportunity.1 2 The effectiveness of these examinations is assumed in ophthalmic surveillance or vision screening programmes for older children, which are primarily intended to confirm normal visual development and to detect disorders such as squint or amblyopia which may develop during childhood.1 2

The survey findings indicate important variation in the implementation of current recommendations about screening and surveillance for ophthalmic disorders in infancy. The degree of clinical experience of respondents and the setting in which they work do not appear to be the main factors influencing the variation in practice, as this did not differ substantially between consultants and trainees or hospital and community based paediatricians. Ophthalmic assessment of infants is difficult and requires specific knowledge and practical training to do effectively. At the time of this survey routine neonatal examinations were carried out by junior hospital based trainee paediatricians but recently, in some areas, this has become the responsibility of general practitioners or midwives, who were not surveyed. There is increasing interest in standardising the content of the routine neonatal examination and in identifying the most appropriate health care professionals to undertake it3: this presents a good opportunity to review the ophthalmic component and to develop appropriate training programmes for those undertaking it.

The survey findings raise serious concerns about the extent and content of both undergraduate and postgraduate medical training in ophthalmic examination of infants, especially the low reported frequency of training received from ophthalmologists and other ophthalmic professionals. Perhaps most important is the finding that most paediatricians, even consultants, considered they would benefit from further training. This is consistent with the reported training needs of general practitioners involved in child health surveillance,4 who are increasingly responsible for the routine examination at 6–8 weeks of age,5 some of whom may not have received appropriate undergraduate training in ophthalmic assessment. Variation in current postgraduate training provision for general practitioners and others involved in child health surveillance has already been identified.5 Undergraduate ophthalmology training, traditionally during a separate clinical attachment, might be improved by greater integration with the main medical specialties: for example, undergraduates could attend paediatric ophthalmology clinics during their attachment to the paediatric department. Increased integration would enhance understanding of the relevance of ophthalmology to other disciplines, improve knowledge about specific ophthalmic disorders and provide greater opportunities to practise examination techniques. Postgraduate training for all doctors involved in screening and surveillance examinations should include specific teaching on paediatric ophthalmic disorders and visual assessment of children together with an evaluation of the skills acquired. The interdisciplinary discussions necessary for the development of such programmes for paediatricians have already been advocated.2 This is an opportunity to explore the possible role of orthoptists as trainers, given their expertise in the assessment of vision and ocular motility in children. A minority of respondents reported receiving any training from an orthoptist despite the scope which exists in both community and hospital settings, especially where secondary screening of referred children is undertaken by orthoptists. While development of undergraduate and postgraduate training programmes is a long term process, closer liaison between paediatric and ophthalmology departments could create training opportunities in the short term: for example, joint assessment clinics for children with visual impairment, already advocated to improve overall management,2 offer excellent scope for further training of paediatricians and ophthalmologists alike.

We suggest that optimal ophthalmic surveillance of newborn and young infants nationally requires more specific guidance on the purpose and content of examinations as well as the programmes for training and assessment of all those involved, both now and in the future. In order to strengthen and develop such programmes it will be necessary to gather the research evidence to inform practice which, as in some other areas of infant screening,6 is currently lacking: there is significant scope for this at a time when other aspects of child surveillance are being re-evaluated.