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Title: AAP Recommends Red Reflex Examination for All Neonates, Infants, and Children

"AAP Recommends Red Reflex Examination for All Neonates, Infants, and Children"

GROVE VILLAGE, Ill-- December 1, 2008 -- A revised policy statement from the American Academy of Pediatrics further outlines the risk factors for potentially vision- and life-threatening eye abnormalities, and recommends that all neonates, infants, and children have a red reflex eye examination. According to the statement, the examination should be conducted before discharge from the neonatal nursery and during all subsequent routine health supervision visits. All infants or children with an abnormal test should be immediately referred to an ophthalmologist skilled in paediatric examinations. While all infants and children benefit from serial red reflex screening, high risk infants (with relatives diagnosed with retinoblastoma, infantile or juvenile cataracts, retinal dysplasia, juvenile glaucoma, or other hereditary vision-threatening disorders) require referral to an ophthalmologist for complete exam regardless of the findings on red reflex testing. The statement also provides illustrations of normal children's eyes, as well as eyes with refractive errors, cataracts, foreign bodies or abrasions, and/or strabismus. The complete statement can be read here: http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/cgi/content/full/109/5/980 SOURCE: American Academy of Pediatrics

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