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 ..