Early screening improves visual outcomes in children

Anchorage, AK-Early screening and detection of amblyopia in children may improve visual outcomes, according to researchers.

It was found that outcomes are better when amblyopia is detected in children at an earlier age such as 2 years old, rather than between 2 and 4 years old.

Thirty-six children were screened before age 2 and 58 children were screened between the ages 2 and 4.

"Despite similar levels of amblyogenic risk factors, the proportion of children failing to reach a visual acuity of 20/40 was significantly less among those screened before 2 years (5%) than in those screened from ages older than 2 years and younger than 4 years (17%)," the study authors wrote.