What are the key clinical signs and symptoms to identify amblyopia in children during routine examinations?

Key clinical signs and symptoms to identify amblyopia in children during routine examinations include:

• Reduced visual acuity in one eye compared to the other, often detected through age-appropriate vision tests.
• Presence of a squint (strabismus), which may be apparent as misalignment of the eyes; this is a common cause and sign associated with amblyopia.
• Compensatory behaviors such as squinting or abnormal head posture to improve vision.
• Difficulty with binocular vision or depth perception, which may be assessed during orthoptic evaluation.
• Absence of obvious symptoms in some children, making routine vision screening and observation critical.

Early detection is important because amblyopia treatment (such as occlusion therapy or atropine penalization) is more effective when started promptly. Any child with suspected or confirmed squint should be referred to a paediatric eye service for assessment of visual acuity and underlying causes to prevent or treat amblyopia ¹.