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Amblyopia screening for first and second-grade children in Jordan
Khalil M Al-Salem1, Mohammad S Saleem1, Ismat Ereifej2
1Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Mutah University, Al-Karak 11183, Jordan.
Insights
A national screening found 2.78% of Jordanian school children have amblyopia, often due to hypermetropia. Early detection and intervention are crucial for preventing vision impairment in children.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Pediatric Ophthalmology
- Public Health
Background:
- Amblyopia, or 'lazy eye', affects visual development in children.
- Early detection and intervention are critical for successful treatment.
- National screening programs are essential for identifying at-risk populations.
Purpose of the Study:
- To report the findings of a nationwide amblyopia screening program in school-aged children in northern Jordan.
- To determine the prevalence and causes of amblyopia in this demographic.
Main Methods:
- Prospective national screening of 17,203 first and second-grade students (ages 6-7).
- Eye examinations included visual acuity, cover-uncover test, and cycloplegic retinoscopy.
- Amblyopia defined by best-corrected visual acuity differences or thresholds.
Main Results:
- The prevalence of amblyopia was 2.78% (479 children).
- Hypermetropia was the leading cause (64.45%), followed by ocular surgeries (15.1%), myopia (10.43%), and strabismus (9.39%).
Conclusions:
- This study identifies modifiable risk factors for amblyopia in Jordanian children.
- Many children are affected by amblyopia and go undiagnosed during early elementary years.
- Enhanced governmental screening efforts are recommended to improve vision outcomes in Jordan.
Aim:
To share the results of a national screening program for amblyopia in school children in the north of Jordan.
Methods:
This is a prospective national screening study for amblyopia. The program rolls first and second-grade children (6 to 7 years old) in the north of Jordan. The eye examination included: best-corrected visual acuity, cover-uncover test, and cycloplegic retinoscopy. Monocular visual acuity was tested using an ETDRS visual acuity chart without correction. Moreover, children were tested with full cycloplegic refraction when the test criteria were met. Unilateral amblyopia was defined as a best-corrected visual acuity difference of 2 or more lines. In comparison, bilateral amblyopia was defined as a best-corrected visual acuity of 20/40 or worse in the best eye.
Results:
The prevalence of amblyopia for the total sample tested (n=17 203) was 2.78% (n=479). The most common cause of amblyopia was hypermetropia (64.45%), followed by previous ocular surgeries (15.1%), myopia (10.43%), strabismus (9.39%), and congenital cataract (0.63%).
Conclusion:
This is the first and only study, identifing modifiable risk factors in Jordanian children with amblyopia. In their first couple of years of elementary education, many Jordanian children are affected by amblyopia and pass unnoticed. A more governmental effort is needed into screening programs to improve vision in the Jordanian population.
