Profile of Amblyopia Among Children Aged from 5 to 15 Years at Hawassa University Comprehensive Specialized Hospital Pediatric Eye Clinic, South Ethiopia, 2020/21

PURPOSE: Functional visual impairment in children is mostly caused by amblyopia. Permanent visual impairment is caused by belated treatment of amblyopia and underlying causes, mostly due to the lack of awareness. Amblyopia affects children’s school performance, social interaction and motor skills. This study was aimed to assess the profile of amblyopia among children aged from 5 to 15 years. METHODS AND MATERIALS: A hospital-based, cross-sectional study was done from November to April 2020/21. Data were collected from all children who came to Hawassa university comprehensive specialized hospital pediatric eye out patient department in the data collection period. Visual acuity measurement, slit lamp examination, cycloplegic refraction, cover test and dilated fundus examination were conducted. Data was entered in Epi-info version 7 and analyzed by Statistical Package for Social Science version 20. Descriptive statistics were conducted to estimate the proportion of amblyopia and its causes. RESULTS: The proportion of amblyopia was 23.8% (18.3–29.7). Most of the participants were within the age range of 5–9 years (55.4%) and males (51.5%). Anisometropia was the commonest cause of amblyopia (31.25%), followed by meridional (20.83), mixed (16.67%), isometropia (12.50%), sensory deprivation (10.42%) and strabismus (8.33%). CONCLUSION: The proportion of amblyopia was 23.8%. Anisometropia, meridional, sensory deprivation, isometropia, mixed type and strabismus were the identified causes of amblyopia.