Prevention campaign for amblyopia and other eye disorders among schoolchildren

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AbstractPurpose: This is a retrospective longitudinal observational study to detect amblyopia and other visual anomalies (refraction, strabismus, pathologies…) in 3, 4 and 5‐year‐old schoolchildren. Amblyopia is a disorder of sight in which the brain fails to fully process input from one eye and over time favours the other eye. It results in decreased vision in an eye that typically appears normal in other respects. Early detection improves treatment success. There is currently an early detection program but according to a recently published study, does not have good compliance or appropriate material.Methods: The study was carried out with children aged 4–6 years from 4 different schools, collecting 491 children with the corresponding informed consent of their parents. The study was divided into two phases, first an optometrist performed an external examination, red reflex, pupillary examination, ocular motility, cover test and photoscreening with a portable autorefractometer. And if any anomaly is detected in the second phase, it would be explored by an ophthalmologist who would also perform stereopsis tests, visual acuity, dilated refraction, eye fundus, and diagnosis and treatment.Results: 491 children were included in this study, visual anomalies were detected in 96, of which 60 were studied in our center. It was detected 47% who had refractive problems, 5% strabismus and 0% opacities. Extrapolating it to the total number of patients seen, 9% had refractive problems and 1% strabismus.Conclusions: Amblyopia has a prevalence of 6% in the population. Its treatment is relatively simple with glasses and patches at a low cost. There is a prevalence of 5%–7.5% of amblyopia in <6 years, 1%–3% strabismus in <6 years as well as 1 of 3 school failure is caused by visual problem.Paediatric check‐up or other check‐ups that these schoolchildren do not detect this type of condition. Therefore, the Campaign for the Prevention of Amblyopia and Other Visual Anomalies idea should be implemented in all the Autonomous Communities.Reference1. Eileen E Birch. Amblyopia and binocular vision. Prog Retin Eye Res. 2013; 33: 67–84.