At what symbol size are school-age children screened for visual acuity?

School-age children are typically screened for visual acuity at a symbol size of 20/30. This standard is established because it allows for the identification of vision issues that may impact a child's ability to learn and succeed in an educational environment. A screening size of 20/30 reflects the visual acuity level that is considered acceptable for children in a school setting, ensuring they can adequately see the blackboard, reading materials, and other visual cues important for learning.

Using a larger symbol size, such as 20/40 or 20/60, may result in missing early signs of visual impairments that could affect academic performance. Conversely, screening at 20/20 would not take into consideration the developmental stage and visual acuity norms for school-age children, which can vary. Therefore, the 20/30 symbol size serves as a practical benchmark for early detection of vision problems among this age group.