VISUAL ACUITY EVALUATION TO IDENTIFY AMBLYOGENIC DEFECTS

Key words: Amblyopia, Visual acuity, Children, Refractive errors

The early diagnosis and treatment of visual significant refractive errors in children are widely accepted to reduce lifelong vision loss caused by amblyopia. Children should be examined routinely by pediatricians in search of amblyogenic factors and refractive errors since the first years of life. The evaluation of visual acuity with traditional eye charts should be preceded by an exhaustive history and ocular inspection, integrated by other tests such as Hirschberg test, Red reflex, Lang stereotest, and Cover test. The significant challenge of timely identification of amblyogenic defects in the pediatric population should be assumed by pediatricians, providing a significant improvement in the quality of life.