AIM: To assess the diagnostic value of age for meridional amblyopia by Logistic regression and receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curve.

METHODS: A total of 1 005 children(1 910 eyes)with unknown ocular abnormalities other than with-the-rule astigmatism(aged 4-8 years)were recruited. Astigmatism >or =1.00D and sphere < or = 3.00D were present in one or both eyes. The difference of sphere between both eyes was less 1.50D. The difference of astigmatism between both eyes was less 1.00D. All astigmatism was calculated by the absolute value. By analyzing age, sex, astigmatism type, diopter of cylinder and diopter of sphere with Logistic regression, two mathematical models were established. Then the diagnostic efficacy of the model was assessed using the ROC curve.

RESULTS: The model 1 included 4 parameters(sex, astigmatism type, diopter of cylinder and diopter of sphere). The model 2 included 5 parameters(the 4 parameters of the model 1 adding age). Using Logistic regression, the diopter of cylinder had an influence on the diagnosis of meridional amblyopia in two models. In model 2, age was another influencing factor on the diagnosis of meridional amblyopia. The model 1 area under ROC curve(AUC)was 0.64, and the model 2 was 0.74. The area of model 2 was greater than the model 1. There was statistical difference in the AUC of two models(P<0.05).

CONCLUSION: Age might be an influential factor on the diagnosis of meridional amblyopia using Logistic regression and ROC curve.