Abstract

Objective: This retrospective cross-sectional study aimed to identify amblyopia and refractive errors among preschool children aged 3.3 to 7.5 years.
Methods: Data were collected retrospectively from medical records of children screened during a health campaign conducted by the Ophthalmology and Pediatrics Departments at King Fahad Armed Forces Hospital, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, over 2 separate months in 2018 and 2019. The screening included assessments of visual acuity, identification of amblyopia and refractive errors, and evaluation of other ocular conditions affecting vision.
Results: A total of 160 children participated in the screening, consisting of 92 males (57.5%) and 68 females (42.5%), with a mean age of 5.3 ± 0.99 years. Among those who completed follow-up, 18 children were diagnosed with amblyopia, representing a prevalence of 11.25%. The most common refractive error associated with amblyopia was compound hyperopic astigmatism, particularly prevalent among the 4-7-year age group.
Conclusion: The study demonstrates a significant prevalence of amblyopia (11.25%) among preschool children, indicating a crucial need for formal vision screening programs targeting this demographic.

Key words: Keywords: Amblyopia, Preschool children, Refractive errors, Vision screening, Saudi Arabia.