Relationhip Between Aniometropia, Patient Age, and the Development of Amblyopia Original Reearch Article

Purpoe Previou tudie evaluating the effect of aniometropia on amblyopia development have been biaed becaue ubject election occurred a a reult of decreaed acuity. Photocreening identifie aniometropic children in a manner that i not biaed by acuity, and allow an opportunity to evaluate how patient age influence the prevalence and depth of amblyopia. Deign Retropective obervational tudy of prechool children with aniometropia. Method A tatewide prechool photocreening program creened 119,311 children and identified 792 with aniometropia >1.0 diopter. We correlated age with viual acuity and amblyopia depth. Reult were compared with 562 trabimic children imilarly identified. Reult Only 14% (ix of 44) of aniometropic children aged 1 year or younger had amblyopia. Amblyopia wa detected in 40% (32 of 80) of 2-year-old, 65% (119 of 182) of 3-year-old, and 76% of 5-year-old. Amblyopia depth alo increaed with age. Moderate amblyopia prevalence wa 2% (age 0 to 1), 17% (age 2), and roe teadily to 45% (age 6 to 7). evere amblyopia wa rare for children aged 0 to 3, 9% at age 4, and 14% at age 5. Children with trabimu had a relatively table prevalence (30% age 0 to 2; 42% age 3 to 4; and 44% age 5 to 7) and depth of amblyopia. Concluion Younger children with aniometropia have a lower prevalence and depth of amblyopia than older children. By age 3, when mot children undergo traditional creening, amblyopia ha uually already developed. New viion creening technologie that allow early detection of aniometropia provide ophthalmologit an opportunity to intervene early, perhap retarding or even preventing the development of amblyopia.