Starting January 1, 2026, neonatal eye screening will be launched in Armenia, becoming the eighth program among pediatric screening initiatives. This was reported by the Ministry of Health.

“A number of visual impairments, diseases, and congenital anomalies do not yet present with clinical signs during the neonatal period. However, early diagnosis and intervention make it possible to prevent irreversible vision loss and ensure normal visual development in children. The aim of this screening is the early detection of eye pathologies that may lead to reduced vision, irreversible blindness, or, if diagnosed late, require complex and prolonged treatment.

Early detection of the following conditions is particularly important and can be achieved through neonatal eye screening:

  1. congenital cataract
  2. congenital glaucoma
  3. retinoblastoma
  4. severe anomalies of the visual system.

Prior to the launch of the program, training courses on neonatal eye screening were conducted in cooperation with the Armenian EyeCare Project charitable foundation, involving specialists from maternity hospitals and neonatal intensive care units across the Republic of Armenia.

As part of the program, around 100 neonatologists and nurses underwent professional training and enhanced their skills in the early diagnosis of vision problems in newborns, which will contribute to reducing preventable blindness in Armenia,” the Ministry of Health stated.