Amblyopia risk factors detected at screening
Reviewed by Fiona Rowe

The aim of this study was to assess amblyopia prevalence in a population of 299 adolescents aged 10-14 years who were screened for risk factors at pre-school age using photoscreening. Eighty-three had screening at one-year-old, 94 at preschool age and 41 had screening at both ages. There were 48.2% males; mean age was 11.2 ±0.65 years. Negative screening results were found in 85% and 15% had positive borderline or unreadable results. Those with unreadable results were only at one-year old screening. At follow-up, 79.3% did not wear glasses. Unilateral amblyopia prevalence was 1%: three cases. The first was a microtropia and not detected at one-year. The second had anisometropia detected at first screening. The third had astigmatism detected at first screening. Cases 2 and 3 were lost to follow-up. The authors report a lower prevalence of amblyopia in this population but conclude that screening aided the early detection of risk factors for amblyopia.

Prevalence of amblyopia after photoscreening.
Laiginhas R, Ferreira CC, Leitão R, et al.
JOURNAL OF PEDIATRIC OPHTHALMOLOGY AND STRABISMUS
2020;57:372-7.