Newborn Eye Screening to Start on January 1, 2026: Ministry of Health

Newborn eye screening will commence on January 1, 2026, which will be the eighth program in child screening initiatives. A number of visual impairments, diseases, and congenital defects do not show clinical signs in the newborn period; however, early diagnosis and intervention can prevent irreversible vision loss and ensure the normal development of the child's eyesight.

The purpose of this screening is to detect ocular pathologies early that could lead to decreased vision or require complex and prolonged treatment due to irreversible loss or late diagnosis. The early identification of the following conditions is particularly important and can be conducted through newborn eye screening:

• Congenital cataract
• Congenital glaucoma
• Retinoblastoma
• Severe anomalies of the visual organ.

Prior to the launch of the program, training courses for newborn eye screening were conducted in collaboration with the Armenian Ophthalmology Project charitable foundation, involving specialists from maternity hospitals and neonatal intensive care units throughout the Republic of Armenia. Approximately 100 neonatologists and nurses participated in the professional training, enhancing their abilities to diagnose visual problems in newborns early, which will contribute to the reduction of preventable blindness in Armenia.