AIM: To analyze the amblyopia morbidity status of young children in Shaanxi city of Xi'an Province, and to explore the related risk factors.

METHODS: Totally 10 268 children between 3-6 years old were screened in 8 kindergartens in our city from March 2012 to April 2016 via a simple non-repeated sampling method, and sight, eye position, eye movement examination were mainly implemented; 10g/L atropine mydriatic optometry was taken to detect eye fundus examination, and to eliminate organic lesion. There were 528 amblyopic children were set as the observation group, 500 healthy children who were treated in our hospital at the same time were set as the control group. Single factor analysis and multiple logistic regression analysis were carried out for children with amblyopia.

RESULTS: In a survey, the incidence rate of amblyopia among young children in Shaanxi Xi'an was 5.14%. Ametropic amblyopia accounted for the highest proportion(61.4%), and lesion extent was usually mild to moderate, ametropic amblyopia accounted for 24.1%, which was inferior to that was the strabismus accounted as 12.9%, rare were form deprivation amblyopia accounted for 1.7%. General data analysis showed that, there were significant differences between the two groups in maternal gestational age, gestational weeks and times of pregnancy, smoking history of parents, family genetic history of myopia(P<0.05). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that pregnancy when old, mother's smoking history, family genetic history of myopia and short gestational weeks were risk factors for amblyopia in young children(P<0.05).

CONCLUSION: There is a certain oneset risk of amblyopia in young children in Shaanxi Xi'an. Attention should be paid to educate eye care knowledge, organize regular visual screening, ensure early detection, early diagnosis, early treatment.