Saba Alkhairy, Farnaz Siddiqui, Mazhar.
Prevalence of Amblyopia Amongst children Presenting in a Tertiary Care Center in Karachi.
Pak J Ophthalmol Jan ;32(3):176-81.

Purpose: To determine the prevalence and causes of Amblyopia amongst children presenting to the OPD department of Dow University of Health Science, Karachi, Pakistan. Study Design: Cross sectional study. Place and Duration of Study: Eye OPD of Dow University of Health Science (Ohja campus), Karachi, Pakistan from January 2016 to June 2016. Material and Methods: This was a cross sectional study conducted in the eye OPD of Dow University of Health Science, Karachi, Pakistan. All children aged 5 to 20 years were examined. They underwent visual acuity assessment with Snellen acuity chart. Those with visual acuity less than or equal to 6l9 or having a difference of two lines on Snellens Chart between the two eyes were examined further with cycloplegic refraction with cyclopentolate 1% and dilated fundo exam was performed. Further tests included Hirschberg light reflex test, cover test, prism cover-uncover and extraocular movements. Results: A total of 2500 children were screened and 169 (6.7%) were found to be amblyopic. There were 61 (36.1%) males and 108 (63.9%) females. Amblyopia was most commonly seen in the age group less than 12 years 63 (37.3%) and the most common cause of amblyopia was isometropia 61 (36.1%) followed by meridional 45 (36.6% mixed 42 (24.9%), anisometropia 15 (8.8%) and squint 6 (3.6%). The prevalence of amblyopia among was found children presenting to the OPD of Dow University of Health Science was found to be 6.7% which is higher than any other published studies on amblyopia. Conclusion: Screening for amblyopia is essential in all children aged 5 years or more, presenting to outpatient.

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