[Current epidemiology of strabismic amblyopia in France]

It is well known that good early management of squint prevents the appearance of functional amblyopia and, when it exists, allows a cure in more than 90% of cases. The authors report a series of 1 552 esotropias. Statistical analysis reveals that the present epidemiologic state of functional amblyopia is dismal. 47% of cases have an amblyopia in spite of 64.6% of children being previously treated. The mean age is 7 years 6 months. The therapeutic results after a 6 months range still shows 38% of poorly applied treatment, but 57% of well-managed patients recover normal visual acuity. The long range results (average 33 months) show that in 47% of cases the treatment was badly applied. On the contrary, 70% of patients having good management were successful. Two main reasons explain such a situation : firstly the lack of information and casualness of parents; and on the other hand faltering and unsuitable medical technics. The only real answer to such a problem is early medical management of every squint. According to the author's experience it seems that such a state is not a special feature of amblyopia epidemiology in the western part of France, but it is observed in the same way in many countries having high level medical care.