1Professor Assistant, College of Medicine, Department of Surgery, University of Al-Qadisiyah
2Lecturer, College of Nursing, University of Al-Qadisiyah
*Corresponding Author: Dr. Haider Aswadlayikh, Lecturer, College of Medicine, Department of surgery, University of Al-Qadisiyah, e-mail: haider.layikh@qu.edu.iq, haidaraswad@yahoo.com, Contact: 00964-7811991570
Online published on 23 December, 2019.
Is to determine the prevalence of amblyopia and associated refractive errors in a sample of school-age children in Al-Diwaniya Province, Iraq, who are between 6 to 10 years of age.
This is a population based cross section study in Al-Diwaniya Province, Iraq from October 2017 to January 2018. Moreover, 6, 742 school-age children are involved, after agreement with the local Ministry of Education Department, along with a team consisting of an ophthalmologist and two optometrists; they visit the school and conduct visual acuity examinations, using the E-test and refraction test, which are both auto-and-manual “with cycloplegia” for children suspected of decreased visual acuity. They do a slit lamp exam (with portable lamps), used to assess anterior segment, red reflex, and lens opacity with a fundus exam to exclude pathology of the eye.
The prevalence rate of amblyopia is 2.2%. There is a significant association between errors of refraction and amblyopia (p < 0.001). The most common error of refraction is hypermetropia, followed by myopia and astigmatism.
Amblyopia is a major health problem in school-age children who need active screening programs, since early detection and treatment is vital; amblyopia is more prevalent in young age groups with a greater number of hypermetropic children.
Paediatric ophthalmology, squint, amblyopia
