Section 511 IAC 4-2-1.1 - Visual acuity testing; modified clinical techniqueAuthority: IC 20-19-2-8
Affected: IC 20-34-3-12
Sec. 1.1.
(a) Every school corporation shall conduct an annual visual test, using the modified clinical technique, of children when they enroll in either kindergarten or grade 1 unless an eye care professional requests, in writing, that the child not be tested. The modified clinical technique consists of testing for vision acuity, refractive error, ocular health, and binocular coordination. The school corporation shall use the suggested equipment unless the professional health personnel of the school recommend other equivalent or superior equipment.(b) To test for visual acuity, the school corporation shall use the Snellen Alphabetical, Stycar (HOTV) Chart or equivalent test. The chart shall be calibrated at ten (10) to twenty (20) feet for distance vision and fourteen (14) inches for near vision. For testing distance vision, the chart shall be illuminated by two (2) sixty (60) watt bulbs and for near vision, by one (1) sixty (60) watt bulb. The chart shall be located at a distance of ten (10) to twenty (20) feet from the student and calibrated accordingly. Lamps shall be placed one (1) foot from the chart. The school shall recommend for further examination those students who: (1) are unable to read the 20/40 line with either eye;(2) with one (1) eye can read a line that is two (2) or more lines higher or lower on the chart than the line that can be read with the other eye; or(3) are unable to read the 20/30 line at 14 inches using both eyes.(c) To test for refractive error, a retinoscope with loose lenses or a lens bar shall be used. The child shall focus on an object at twenty (20) feet for distance vision of [sic.] 3/4 meter (29.53 inches) for near vision. A school corporation shall recommend for further examination a student who has: (1) refraction of +2.00 D or greater;(2) refraction of -1.00 or greater;(3) astigmatism of 1.00 D or greater;(4) anisometropia of 1.00 D or greater.(d) To determine the external health of the eyes, the ocular adnexa, conjunctiva and cornea of the eyes shall be observed in a room with normal illumination and the illumination from a pen light.(e) To determine the internal health of the eyes, the anterior chamber, iris, posterior chamber, lens, vitreous, optic nerve head, and retina shall be observed with a direct ophthalmoscope with rheostat, variable aperture and variable plus and minus lenses.(f) Binocularity shall be tested respectively at twenty (20) feet (distance) and fourteen (14) inches (near). To test the binocularity of the eyes, any of the following equipment may be used: (1) A paddle occuluder [sic.] to alternately cover the eyes while the opposite eye fixates on a target.(2) Plastic or glass prisms loose or in a bar or rotary pedestal to measure manifest or latent deviation.(3) Stereopsis targets with appropriate testing spectacles. Disparity shall be recorded in seconds of arc.(g) The school corporation shall recommend for further examination those students who demonstrate:(1) a manifest deviation of any size;(2) a latent deviation of 10 prism diopters of exodeviation;(3) a latent deviation of 8 prism diopters of esodeviation; or(4) a lack of stereo acuity.(h)(1) The school administrator shall be responsible for assigning the best qualified person(s) in the school system or school health service for conducting, supervising, and assisting in eye screening.(2) The school administration shall be responsible for obtaining the services of a licensed eye health care professional to conduct testing using the modified clinical technique (internal and external diseases of the eye, testing of refraction and binocularity using paddle occlusion test with prism measurement) for students upon first entrance into the school.Indiana State Board of Education; 511 IAC 4-2-1.1; filed Mar 24, 1988, 8:30 am: 11 IR 2861; readopted filed Oct 12, 2001, 12:55 p.m.: 25 IR 937; readopted filed Nov 20, 2007, 11:36 a.m.: 20071219-IR-511070386RFAThis rule was promulgated jointly with the state board of health and also appears at 410 IAC 3-1.1.