A Study of Clinical Patterns and Risk Factors of Amblyopia in Children at a Tertiary Care Government Hospital

Background: Amblyopia is one of the leading causes of preventable visual impairment in childhood. Failure to detect and manage amblyopia during the critical period of visual development can result in persistent monocular or binocular visual loss, with adverse effects on academic performance, psychosocial well-being, and quality of life.

Aim: To evaluate the clinical profile and associated risk factors of amblyopia among children presenting to a tertiary care government eye hospital.

Materials and Methods: This hospital-based observational study was conducted among children aged 1–15 years diagnosed with amblyopia at the Department of Paediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus, Sarojini Devi Eye Hospital, Osmania Medical College, Hyderabad, from June 2024 to June 2025. All children underwent detailed ophthalmic and orthoptic evaluation, including assessment of visual acuity, ocular alignment by Hirschberg corneal reflex test and prism bar cover test, cycloplegic refraction, and fundus examination. Socio-demographic details and clinical history were also recorded.

Results: A total of 1805 children with amblyopia were included in the study, yielding a prevalence of 3.76% among outpatient attendees. The highest proportion of cases was observed in the 4–8-year age group. Anisometropia was the most common amblyogenic factor, followed by strabismus, hypermetropia, myopia, aphakia, congenital and traumatic cataract, ptosis, and nystagmus. A greater burden of amblyopia was observed among children from lower socioeconomic backgrounds. Silent amblyopia was also identified in children with unilateral high myopia and minor trauma-related cataract, indicating delayed recognition in clinically subtle cases.

Conclusion: Amblyopia remains a significant and potentially reversible cause of childhood visual impairment when identified early. Regular vision screening from three years of age, early detection of refractive and structural risk factors, and timely intervention are essential to prevent permanent visual disability.