AAPOS-Based Guidelines for the WELCH ALLYN SPOT Vision Screener

As instrument-based pediatric vision screening technology has evolved, the American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus (AAPOS) has developed uniform guidelines (2003, updated 2013) to inform the development of devices that can detect specified target levels of amblyopia risk factors (ARFs) and visually significant refractive error.* In 2021, the AAPOS Vision Screening and Research Committees revealed an apparent high level of over-referral for non-amblyopic, symmetric astigmatism, prompting the current revision.¹

The Spot Vision Screener criteria have been revised in alignment with findings from a peer-reviewed study published in JAAPOS:

“Effectiveness of the Spot Vision Screener Using Updated 2021 AAPOS Guidelines” by Peterseim et al. This study analyzed data from 1,090 children, providing evidence-based support for the updated screening parameters.² The criteria is age specific to assist with early detection of amblyopic risk factors in children.

To update your Spot Vision Screener to include the latest guidelines, please download the file below and follow these instructions:

Download the latest AAPOS-based guidelines for SPOT Vision Screener .CSV file.

Insert a USB 2.0 drive into your computer.
Download the latest AAPOS-based guidelines for SPOT Vision Screener file.
Copy the SpotCriteria.csv file to the top level on the USB drive. The file cannot be within a folder.
Eject the USB drive from your computer and insert into the vision screener.
Touch Tools, then touch Import/Export.
Touch Import to import the updated criteria file.
To verify the file was imported successfully, touch Tools, then touch Criteria. Review the new settings.
To revert to the default criteria shipped with the device, touch Restore twice. This will delete custom criteria from the vision screener and restore the default criteria.

For assistance updating your vision screener criteria, please contact technical support:

Email: [email protected]
Phone: (800) 535-6663, Option 2

* 2021 AAPOS did not have recommendations for children under 12 months or over 60 months for anisometropia, hyperopia, and strabismus.

References

Robert W. Arnold, MD,a Sean P. Donahue, MD, PhD,b David I. Silbert, MD,c Susannah Q. Longmuir, MD,d Geoffrey E. Bradford, MD,e Mae Millicent W. Peterseim, MD,f Amy K. Hutchinson, MD,g James W. O’Neil, MD,h Alejandra G. de Alba Campomanes, MD, MPH,i and Stacy L. Pineles, MD, MS,j on behalf of the AAPOS Vision Screening and Research Committees. AAPOS uniform guidelines for instrument-based pediatric vision screen alidation 2021.
Effectiveness of the Spot Vision Screener using updated 2021 AAPOS guidelines. Peterseim, Mae Millicent W. et al. Journal of the American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus (JAAPOS), Volume 27, Issue 1, 24.e1 - 24.e7

Baxter, Hillrom, Spot and Welch Allyn are trademarks of Baxter International Inc. or its subsidiaries.

US-FLC158-250080 (v1.0) 02/2026