Objective:

To evaluate the safety of mobile eye screening programs and assess the risk of adverse events.

Approach:

• Study Design: The study analyzed follow-up data from participants who received free vision screenings through the Casey Outreach Program at Oregon Health and Science University between January 2022 and December 2024.
• Data Collection: Telephone interviews were conducted with randomly selected English-speaking participants who underwent mobile eye screenings, assessing potential eye-related complications.
• External Program Survey: Researchers contacted three mobile eye programs (Kress Vision, OneSight, VSP Vision) to determine their tracking of adverse events.

Key Findings:

• Out of 451 program participants, 30 completed follow-up interviews.
• 53% of respondents reported no harmful effects following their eye screening.
• Common mild symptoms included eye pain (27%) and nervousness about procedures (17%).
• No serious adverse events such as corneal abrasions or angle-closure glaucoma were reported.
• A review of 12 years of Casey Outreach Program data identified one case of acute unilateral narrow-angle glaucoma, which was a preexisting condition.

Interpretation:

Mobile eye clinics can provide local, timely, and culturally appropriate eye care with minimal risk.

Limitations:

• Low number of follow-up participants limited broader conclusions.
• Participants may have forgotten minor adverse effects over time.
• External programs did not formally record adverse events, complicating comparisons.

Conclusion:

This study represents an initial step toward developing systematic monitoring for adverse events in mobile eye screening programs.

Sources:

• JAMA Ophthalmology