Level of Prevention: Secondary Prevention
This scenario represents secondary prevention, as it involves screening to detect an existing but asymptomatic condition (refractive error) followed by early intervention to prevent progression to more significant visual impairment. 1, 2
Understanding the Prevention Framework
The three levels of prevention are distinguished by timing and intent:
- Primary prevention aims to prevent disease occurrence before it develops (e.g., outdoor time to prevent myopia onset in children) 1
- Secondary prevention focuses on early detection and treatment of existing disease to prevent progression or complications 3, 4
- Tertiary prevention manages established disease to prevent further deterioration and complications 5
Why This is Secondary Prevention
The key elements that define this as secondary prevention include:
- Screening identification: The student was identified through a school health screening program, which is a classic secondary prevention strategy designed to detect existing but unrecognized conditions 4, 6
- Confirmed disease present: The refractive error already existed before detection—the student had low vision due to an uncorrected refractive error 3
- Early intervention: Corrective glasses were prescribed to restore visual function and prevent educational and developmental consequences 3, 4
- Prevention of complications: The intervention prevents progression to more severe visual impairment and associated morbidity, including reduced educational performance and quality of life 3, 7
Clinical Context
Vision screening in school-aged children specifically targets early detection of refractive errors that can impair academic performance and development 4. Uncorrected refractive errors represent a major cause of visual impairment globally, affecting 153 million people, and correction with spectacles is among the most cost-effective interventions in eye health care 3.
The American Academy of Ophthalmology emphasizes that refractive error correction optimizes retinal-image clarity and overall visual function 8, which in this case prevents the educational and developmental consequences of untreated visual impairment 3, 7.
Common Pitfall to Avoid
Do not confuse this with primary prevention—the refractive error already exists and is being treated, not prevented from occurring. Primary prevention would involve interventions like increased outdoor time in young children to prevent myopia development 1.