ABSTRACT

To assess the clinical characteristics of amblyopic cases.

The records of 254 amblyopic cases followed in our orthoptic clinic were reviewed retrospectively. Age, visual acuity, type of strabismus, age at diagnosis of patients were analysed in details.

The mean age of the patients was 10.2±3.4 years. 149 (%58.6) of them were female, 105 (%41.4) were male. The underlying amblyogenic causes were anisometropia (%37.8), strabismus (%30.7), mixed strabismus and anisometropia (%27.1), visual deprivation (%4.4). Anisometropia was the most common cause in both unilateral and bilateral amblyopic cases. The most frequent pattern of strabismus was esotropia (%34.2), whereas hypermetropia (%45.2) was the most frequent refractive error in amblyopic eyes. The mean age at diagnosis was earlier for strabismic (6.7 years) amblyopia than anisometropic (8.5 years) amblyopia (p=0.245).

Amblyopia is the most common cause of visual impairment in children. Anisometropia is the most common cause and may not be detected as early as treatment to be effective. Therefore preschool vision screening is necessary for early treatment of amblyopia.

Keywords: Amblyopia, clinical characteristics