Children at risk of developing amblyopia: When to refer for an eye examination

Amblyopia is a sensory vision deficit that may be detected, diagnosed and treated best during the early stages of visual development. Only a small percentage of the paediatric population receive oculovisual examinations during this critical period of development even though such care is often free and easily accessible. Vision screening programs exist in certain states in the United States and in several European countries. Unfortunately, these programs are rarely implemented in Canada because of limited resources.Alternatively, screening at-risk infants may be more efficient and cost-effective in the early detection of amblyopia. Educating and training health care professionals, such as paediatricians, to recognize certain risk factors for amblyopia and encouraging early referral of the at-risk child to an eye care professional may prevent the development of amblyopia. The at-risk child has been defined to guide paediatricians and other primary health care professionals as to when to refer these children, the appropriate frequency of follow-up evaluations and the comanagement of compliance and treatment.