title: Eye diseases in children in Jordan.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate eye diseases in children in Jordan and to see whether it is necessary to conduct a visual screening programme.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study was conducted between July 2010 and July 2012 at four Royal Medical Service hospitals located in northern, eastern, middle and southern parts of Jordan. Children aged (6-14 years) attending paediatric clinics for various reasons were enrolled. Ophthalmologic assessment included visual acuity and anterior and posterior segment examination. Patients with visual acuity of less than 20/20 underwent refraction under cyclopegia.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the 3200 children in the study ocular abnormalities were found in 366 (11.4%); 312 (9.8%) had visual acuity less than 20/20 in one or both eyes. Refractive error was seen in 286 (8.9%); while vernal catarrh was the second most common ocular abnormality with 51 (1.6%) patients followed by squint 16(0.5%). Four (0.12%) patients had severe visual impairment and one (0.03%) patient was blind.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The prevalence of refractive error was high in school children in the study area. It is important to conduct a visual screening programme in early school years in order to prevent amblyopia.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, King Hussein Medical Center, Neuroophthalmology Fellowship, Addenbrooke's Hospital, Cambridge. mousamad@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Al-Madani Victor
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Mousa
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, King Hussein Medical Center, Neuroophthalmology Fellowship, Moorfield's Eye Hospital, London, UK.
authors.forename: Al-Eajailat Machael
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Suha
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D004380:Duodenal Obstruction; D005128:Eye Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007597:Jordan / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening; D012030:Refractive Errors / Q000453:epidemiology; D014792:Visual Acuity