Vision Screening | Texas Health Steps

Check your Knowledge

The Texas Health Steps Periodicity Schedule specifies ages at which subjective vision and visual acuity screening are required as part of preventive medical checkups. The Texas Education Agency also specifies at what grade levels vision screening must be performed in schools. School-based screening can satisfy the Texas Health Steps requirement when the screening was completed within the previous 12 months and the results are included in the child’s medical record.

The schedules can be confusing to parents and providers alike. Read the following examples to determine whether these young patients require visual screening during their preventive medical checkups.

Case Example 1

Jonah

6 years

Jonah is in your office for his 6-year Texas Health Steps preventive medical checkup in November. Jonah is in kindergarten and had a school-based vision screening in September. The school sent the documented results to Jonah’s parent, who brought them to the checkup appointment. Your staff reviews the results and notes that Jonah’s vision tested as normal, and the parent reports no concerns about his vision. The results of the school-based screening are placed in Jonah’s medical records.

Visual acuity testing is a required component of the 6-year Texas Health Steps preventive medical checkup. Does Jonah require vision screening as part of this checkup?

Yes

This answer is incorrect.

The documented school-based vision screening was completed within the previous 12 months and is included in the medical record, so it satisfies the Texas Health Steps vision screening requirement for this checkup.

This answer is correct.

Case Example 2

Reese

10 years

Reese is in your office for her 10-year Texas Health Steps preventive medical checkup in April. Reese is in 5th grade and had a school-based vision screening in October. Your staff reviews the school screening documentation, confirms it was completed within the previous 12 months, and includes the results in the child’s medical record. No new concerns about the child’s vision are noted during the visit.

Visual acuity testing is a required component of the 10-year Texas Health Steps preventive medical checkup. Does Reese require vision screening as part of this checkup?

Yes

This answer is incorrect.

The documented school-based vision screening meets the Texas Health Steps requirement because it was conducted within the prior 12 months and the results are included in the child’s medical record.

This answer is correct.

The documented school-based vision screening meets the Texas Health Steps requirement because it was conducted within the prior 12 months and the results are included in the child’s medical record.

Case example 3

Jai

13 years

Jai is a new patient who recently moved to Texas with his family and attends 7^th grade at the local middle school. He is in your office for his 13-year Texas Health Steps preventive medical checkup. Jai’s mother reports that her son received school-based vision screening at his old school and has no vision problems. She does not have documentation of the screening results. Jai has not yet received state-mandated vision screening for new students at his school.

Visual acuity screening is required for patients at age 13 if it was not performed at the 12-year preventive medical checkup. Does Jai require vision screening as part of this checkup?

Yes

This answer is correct.

Because documented school-based screening results are not available in the medical record, the provider must complete the required Texas Health Steps vision screening for this checkup to be considered complete.

This answer is incorrect.

Why it matters

Visual impairment can present safety issues for children at home, school or in the community. Uncorrected vision problems can affect a child’s learning ability and psychomotor development. Routine screening can detect vision problems and underlying disorders that could cause lifelong impairment without proper treatment.

Learn more about ocular health and vision screening, including appropriate follow-up and referral, by taking our free CME course, Hearing and Vision Screening.