PMCV 025 - School Vision Screening Service

The primary aim of the Services is to identify children aged 4 to 5 years with reduced vision in one eye, enabling timely intervention which gives these children a chance at achieving their full visual potential. The Services will also identify children with impaired sight in both eyes, children with poorer vision in both eyes are usually identified in infancy through other screening programmes (the Neonatal Infant Physical Examination and the Retinopathy of Prematurity screening programmes), or are detected through their symptoms. The screening for reduced vision in children aged 4 to 5 years is primarily undertaken to detect individuals with amblyopia, which literally means ‘blunted sight’ but is a form of abnormal vision system development. It is commonly defined as impaired vision that is not attributable to a structural abnormality of the eye. Early detection of amblyopia is necessary to avoid permanent visual impairment by allowing treatment to be undertaken within the sensitive period of neuroplasticity (growth and change) in the visual system. We intend to award a contract to an existing provider following direct award process C. The Contract will be for 3 year period from 1st August 2024 to 31st July 2027.