Prevalence and causes of amblyopia in a population-based study of young adult men in Singapore

Abstract

PURPOSE: To determine the prevalence and causes of amblyopia in young adult Chinese, Indian, and Malay men in Singapore. DESIGN: A population-based cross-sectional study. METHODS: Best-corrected visual acuities of all Singaporean men born in the years 1978 to 1983 were measured before enlistment into military service. Those with BCVA of 6/12 or worse were examined by an ophthalmologist for the presence of amblyopia and other causes. RESULTS: Of the 122,596 men examined, there were 428 with amblyopia, an overall prevalence of 0.35%. The prevalence was similar among Chinese (0.34%), Malays (0.37%), and Indians (0.41%, P = .52). Anisometropic amblyopia was the most common type of amblyopia and strabismic amblyopia was more common in Indians. There were little racial differences in the prevalence of meridional or form deprivation amblyopia. CONCLUSION: The overall prevalence of amblyopia was low and was similar among the three racial groups in young adult Singaporean males. © 2005 by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.