AIM: To investigate strabismus and amblyopia in preschool children in Zhongshan city and to solve the countermeasures.

METHODS: A total of 14 582 eyes of 7 291 children aged 3-7 years in urban area and urban area of Zhongshan city were randomly selected for refractive examination. Before examination, the concentration of 10g/L atropine ointment was used, to determine the corrected vision amblyopia. The ametropic amblyopia was measured by retinoscopy, and corneal mapping method was used to screen the strabismus. Then strabismus and amblyopia of preschool children in Zhongshan were analyzed.

RESULTS: Of the 7 291 preschool children, 687 had ametropia, with the rate of 9.42% and 236 amblyopia with the rate of 3.24%, 13 cases were strabismus, whit the rate of 0.18%. There were no significant differences on ametropia, amblyopia or strabismus between 3-<5 years old group and 5-7 years old group(P>0.05). Of the 236 children with amblyopia, 215 were ametropic amblyopia, account for 91.10%; 13 children with strabismic amblyopia, of which 8 concomitant esotropia, 5 concomitant exotropia; 8 children with deprivation amblyopia; the difference of children number between strabismic amblyopia and deprivation amblyopia was statistically significant(P<0.05). Of the 236 children, more 3-<5 aged children had mild amblyopia than those 5-7 aged ones(P<0.05); less 3-<5 aged children had severe amblyopia than those 5-7 aged ones(P<0.05)

CONCLUSION: The incidence of strabismus and amblyopia in preschool children in Zhongshan is relatively high. It should be screened early, and effective measures should be taken as early as possible to improve the children's vision.