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AIM: To share the results of a national screening program for amblyopia in school children in the north of Jordan. METHODS: This is a prospective national screening study for amblyopia. The program rolls first and second-grade children (6 to 7 years old) in the north of Jordan. The eye examination included: best-corrected visual acuity, cover-uncover test, and cycloplegic retinoscopy. Monocular visual acuity was tested using an ETDRS visual acuity chart without correction. Moreover, children were tested with full cycloplegic refraction when the test criteria were met. Unilateral amblyopia was defined as a best-corrected visual acuity difference of 2 or more lines. In comparison, bilateral amblyopia was defined as a best-corrected visual acuity of 20/40 or worse in the best eye. RESULTS: The prevalence of amblyopia for the total sample tested (n=17 203) was 2.78% (n=479). The most common cause of amblyopia was hypermetropia (64.45%), followed by previous ocular surgeries (15.1%), myopia (10.43%), strabismus (9.39%), and congenital cataract (0.63%). CONCLUSION: This is the first and only study, identi?ng modifiable risk factors in Jordanian children with amblyopia. In their first couple of years of elementary education, many Jordanian children are affected by amblyopia and pass unnoticed. A more governmental effort is needed into screening programs to improve vision in the Jordanian population.

Purpose To assess the refractive, visual acuity, and binocular results of laser-assisted subepithelial keratectomy (LASEK) in children with bilateral hyperopia or hyperopic anisometropic amblyopia. Setting Nonhospital surgical facility and hospital clinic, Calgary, Alberta, Canada. Methods This retrospective review comprised children with bilateral hyperopia or hyperopic anisometropic amblyopia who had LASEK. Refractive status, visual acuity, and binocular vision were assessed and recorded 2 months and 1 year postoperatively. Results The mean spherical equivalent (SE) in all 72 hyperopic eyes (47 patients) was +3.42 diopters (D) (range 0.00 to +12.50 D) preoperatively and +0.59 D (range −1.25 to +2.00 D) 1 year postoperatively. After LASIK, 41.7% of eyes had improved corrected distance visual acuity (CDVA). No patient had reduced CDVA or loss of fusional ability; there was a 25.0% improvement in stereopsis at 1 year. The mean anisometropic difference in the hyperopic anisometropic amblyopia subgroup (18 eyes, 10 patients) was 4.39 D (range +1.75 to +7.75 D) preoperatively and +0.51 D (range 0 to +0.875 D) at 1 year. One year postoperatively, 83% of anisometropic eyes were within ±1.00 D of the fellow eye and 94.0% were within ±3.00 D. Postoperatively, 64.7% of eyes had improved CDVA with no reduced CDVA or loss of fusional ability; there was a 22% improvement in stereopsis at 1 year. Conclusion Laser-assisted subepithelial keratectomy improved visual acuity in pediatric hyperopia with or without associated hyperopic anisometropic amblyopia. Financial Disclosure No author has a financial or proprietary interest in any material or method mentioned.