Visual acuity, amblyopia, and ocular pathology in 12- to 13-year-old children in Northern Mexico.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to establish visual acuity (VA) and the prevalence of amblyopia and other ocular disorders in a population of 12- to 13-year-old children in Mexico who have not been vision screened.

METHODS

A total of 1,035 12- to 13-year-old children were examined in a field study. The examination included VA, stereopsis, cover testing, refractive retinoscopy, and examination of the red reflex and posterior pole. In cases with unexplained subnormal VA, visually evoked potential/visually evoked response was also performed.

RESULTS

A >or=20/20 in at least one eye was found in 93% of the subjects. Bilateral VA <or=20/40 was found in 0.3% of cases. None of the subjects had bilateral VA <20/60. Amblyopia (<or=20/40) was found in 26 subjects (2.5%). In 10 cases, the cause of subnormal VA was unexplained. Ocular albinism was found in 3 cases, whereas strabismus was found in 24 subjects (2.3%). There were very few ocular opacities or posterior pole abnormalities.

CONCLUSIONS

The visual status in the Mexican 12- to 13-year-old children tested was good. The prevalence of amblyopia was similar to that in other unscreened populations.