SUMMARY
Purpose:
The authors present a survey of the prevalence of amblyopia at the Instituto de Olhos de Goiânia (IOG), an important ophthalmological center in West Central Brasil.
Methods:
The study included 6363 patients, with no age restriction and was based on the discrimination of etiologies that are responsible for the observed low visual acuity.
Results:
The results showed a prevalence of 2.9%c of amblyopes and indicated refrational causes as the most important in originated amblyopia (64.3%), followed by squint (31.9%c) and, finally, by pathologies that lead to light privation at the beginning of visual system development-amblyopia "ex-anopsia" (3. 7%).
Conclusions:
This study emphasizes, in an incontestable way, the relevant position occupied by amblyopia among the causes that affect both social and economic performance of Brazilians, showing the considerable number of amblyopes already between the ages of 20 to 40. It also shows the need for large programs to evaluate children's visual acuity, promoting amblyopia prevention, not only inside but outside ophthalmology offices too.
Keywords:
Amblyopia; Prevalence and causes