Forty-four children aged 2-9 years with strabismic and anisometropic amblyopia were prospectively followed up during amblyopia treatment. The efficacy ofoptimised treatment in terms of number of cured children, time to achieve cure, and rate of initial improvement ofvisual acuity was evaluated in relation to age at start of treatment, type and initial degree of amblyopia, and adherence to treatment regimen. Compliance with treatment was the most critical factor predicting a successful outcome. Among the compliant children 35 out of 36 were cured (visual acuity difference between amblyopic and non-amblyopic eyes not more than one line) within five months regardless of age, treatment regimen, and type or initial degree of amblyopia as compared with none in the group with low compliance. Most of these compliant children were cured within three months, with shorter treatment times on average for the younger children. The initial improvement of visual acuity was also faster at 2 years than at 4 years of age. Anisometropes with moderate amblyopia at the start of treatment were over-represented in the group with low compliance. We conclude that early diagnosis of strabismus in combination with general population screening at the age of 4 to detect amblyopia caused by anisometropia or microstrabismus seems to be efficacious for the cure of most cases. The major factor in treatment failure was found to be inadequate adherence to the treatment reginen.

This 40-year postoperative follow-up of patients with childhood ET who underwent strabismus surgery by a single surgeon in Sweden showed that multiple surgeries and presence of postoperative adduction deficit were the most important factors influencing the incidence of consecutive XT after surgery. Presence of uncorrected amblyopia did not alter the prognosis for long-term development of consecutive XT.

ABSTRACT.Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the prevalence of common eye disorders in a nationwide school survey conducted in the Sultanate of Oman. The results presented here are those involving amblyopia induced by strabismus or anisometropia. Methods: A random selection of primary schools provided a sample that included 49 schools with 6541 children in Grades 1 and 6. Examinations of the eyes of 96% of these children were conducted doing visual acuity screening to 0.5. All 6292 children had an external eye examination. All children failing the visual acuity test had a complete eye examination. Results: Amblyopia was found in 0.92%, strabismic amblyopia in 0.48%, anisometropic amblyopia in 0.44% and strabismus with or without amblyopia was seen in 0.9%. There was statistically significantly (p∞0.05) more amblyopia in 11-12 year olds (Grade 6) when compared with the 6-7 year olds (Grade 1). This difference was only found among the strabismic children. Conclusion: When compared to Europe or North America the prevalence of strabismic amblyopia is lower, whereas anisometropic amblyopia occurs with approximately the same frequency. The increase of strabismic amblyopia in the older children indicates a development of amblyopia after the age of 6 to 7 years in an untreated population.

ABSTRACT.Purpose: Between 1992 to 1994 in the Sultanate of Oman, 6292 randomly selected school children from Grade 1 (6-year-olds) and Grade 6 (12-year-olds) were examined for visual acuity. The purpose of this paper is to present results that relate to the prevalence of myopia in this population. Methods: All children with uncorrected visual acuity below 0.5 in one or both eyes received a thorough eye examination including cycloplegic retinoscopy. Results: In the 6-year-olds there was an overall myopia (ت1.0 D) of 0.56% and in the 12-year-olds there was 5.16%. In rural, remote areas there was statistically significantly less myopia in the older group when compared with the rest of the country. In the town of Nizwa in the region of Dakhlia, the value for high myopia (ت7.0 diopters) in 12-year-old girls was 2.82% compared to an average prevalence 0.13%. Conclusion: In the Sultanate of Oman the prevalence of myopia showed consistency with findings in Europe and North America. There was significantly less myopia in remote areas. An increased prevalence of high myopia was seen in one of Oman's major cities.

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ABSTRACT.Purpose: In 1992-94 a nation-wide survey in primary schools in the Sultanate of Oman for ocular disorders was conducted. This report focuses on the prevalence of visual acuity loss after injury. Methods and material: A random selection of 6292 children from Grades 1 and 6 from all primary schools in the country provided the research sample. Children who failed the visual acuity screening test received a complete ''on the spot'' eye examination by the pediatric ophthalmologist. Results: 12 children were found to have monocular low vision (VA ∞0.3 to amaurosis) caused by injury. Total prevalence for loss of vision in one eye was 0.19%, with 0.15% in 6-year-olds and 0.25% in 12-year-olds. Traumatic cataracts were noted in 4 children, 3 of these were in need of surgery. One child had aphakia after trauma surgery and needed a secondary lens implant. Conclusion: Altogether the prevalence of traumatic monocular visual damage in our study was 0.19%. Next to amblyopia, injury is the main reason for monocular loss of vision in childhood, however, both are preventable. Information about trauma prevention and the need for adequate ophthalmic care should be emphasized. Regular and repeated screening of visual acuity in children is essential.

Two methods to measure visual acuity in children aged 18 months and upwards are described, the Kolt-test and the O-test. The validity of the tests was evaluated. These new tests are based on the ability of small children to identify symbols of increasing complexity as they grow older. Thus, a circle is recognized at 12 months, and a cross at about 24 months, while recognition of a triangle and a square comes in between. Correct performance is rewarded. Simplified procedures permit testing children with visual acuity below 0.1 (6/60, 20/200). The tests may also be used in mentally retarded persons if conventional methods fail.

2 Yamaguchi T. A colour atlas of clinical parasitology. 1st Ed.