美国弱视的患病率大概为2%至3%。[5]Multi-ethnic Pediatric Eye Disease Study Group. Prevalence of amblyopia and strabismus in African American and Hispanic children ages 6 to 72 months: the multi-ethnic pediatric eye disease study. Ophthalmology. 2008;115:1229-1236;e1.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17953989?tool=bestpractice.com[8]Preslan MW, Novak A. Baltimore Vision Screening Project. Ophthalmology. 1996;103:105-109.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/8628540?tool=bestpractice.com[9]Nilsson J. The negative impact of amblyopia from a population perspective: untreated amblyopia almost doubles the lifetime risk of bilateral visual impairment. Br J Ophthalmol. 2007;91:1417-1418.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17947260?tool=bestpractice.com[10]Robaei D, Kifley A, Rose KA, et al. Impact of amblyopia on vision at age 12 years: findings from a population-based study. Eye. 2008;22:496-502.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17384576?tool=bestpractice.com男童和女童患病率相同。在洛杉矶一项多民族的儿童眼病研究中,不同民族弱视的患病率不同,非洲裔美国儿童患病率为1.5%,西班牙裔或拉丁美洲儿童患病率为2.6%。[5]Multi-ethnic Pediatric Eye Disease Study Group. Prevalence of amblyopia and strabismus in African American and Hispanic children ages 6 to 72 months: the multi-ethnic pediatric eye disease study. Ophthalmology. 2008;115:1229-1236;e1.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17953989?tool=bestpractice.com一项对巴尔的摩内城的青年人口研究发现患病率为3.9%。[8]Preslan MW, Novak A. Baltimore Vision Screening Project. Ophthalmology. 1996;103:105-109.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/8628540?tool=bestpractice.com
在英国一项以人口为基础的研究中,3.6%的7岁儿童过去/现在有弱视,病例数量随着社会阶层的低下有增加趋势。[11]Williams C, Northstone K, Howard M, et al. Prevalence and risk factors for common vision problems in children: data from the ALSPAC study. Br J Ophthalmol. 2008;92:959-964.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18480306?tool=bestpractice.com加拿大(4.7%)和台湾(5%)的儿童患病率较高。[12]Lai YH, Hsu HT, Wang HZ, et al. The visual status of children ages 3 to 6 years in the vision screening program in Taiwan. J AAPOS. 2009;13:58-62.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18835731?tool=bestpractice.com[13]Drover JR, Kean PG, Courage ML, et al. Prevalence of amblyopia and other vision disorders in young Newfoundland and Labrador children. Can J Ophthalmol. 2008;43:89-94.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18204498?tool=bestpractice.com北爱尔兰(1.13%)、伊朗(1.7%)、澳大利亚(0.7%)和日本(0.2%)儿童的患病率较低。[14]Robaei D, Rose KA, Ojaimi E, et al. Causes and associations of amblyopia in a population-based sample of 6-year-old Australian children. Arch Ophthalmol. 2006;124:878-884.http://archopht.ama-assn.org/cgi/content/full/124/6/878http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16769842?tool=bestpractice.com[15]Matsuo T, Matsuo C. Comparison of prevalence rates of strabismus and amblyopia in Japanese elementary school children between the years 2003 and 2005. Acta Med Okayama. 2007;61:329-334.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18183077?tool=bestpractice.com[16]Jamali P, Fotouhi A, Hashemi H, et al. Refractive errors and amblyopia in children entering school: Shahrood, Iran. Optom Vis Sci. 2009;86:364-369.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19289975?tool=bestpractice.com[17]Donnelly UM, Stewart NM, Hollinger M. Prevalence and outcomes of childhood visual disorders. Ophthalmic Epidemiol. 2005;12:243-250.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16033745?tool=bestpractice.com
美国的这项多民族儿童眼病研究中大部分的弱视病例源于屈光不正(大约75%)。[5]Multi-ethnic Pediatric Eye Disease Study Group. Prevalence of amblyopia and strabismus in African American and Hispanic children ages 6 to 72 months: the multi-ethnic pediatric eye disease study. Ophthalmology. 2008;115:1229-1236;e1.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17953989?tool=bestpractice.com屈光参差性弱视是屈光不正性弱视中最常见的亚型。[6]Attebo K, Mitchell P, Cumming R, et al. Prevalence and causes of amblyopia in an adult population. Ophthalmology. 1998;105:154-159.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9442792?tool=bestpractice.com第二常见的弱视的病因是斜视。[6]Attebo K, Mitchell P, Cumming R, et al. Prevalence and causes of amblyopia in an adult population. Ophthalmology. 1998;105:154-159.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9442792?tool=bestpractice.com但是,其他研究则发现相对于屈光参差,斜视是更常见的弱视亚型。[7]Shaw DE, Fielder AR, Minshull C, et al. Amblyopia: factors influencing age of presentation. Lancet. 1988;2:207-209.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/2899674?tool=bestpractice.com这种差异可能由研究人群(眼科门诊患者与人群为基础的调查)和不同研究对弱视的定义方式来解释。此外,斜视和屈光参差常常共存(联合机制性弱视);因此将其随意分类为其中任何一种单一病因。形觉剥夺性弱视是最不常见的但是对视觉损害是最大的,一定程度上是因为它经常出现在婴儿期。[6]Attebo K, Mitchell P, Cumming R, et al. Prevalence and causes of amblyopia in an adult population. Ophthalmology. 1998;105:154-159.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9442792?tool=bestpractice.com弱视患病率不随年龄发生变化。[5]Multi-ethnic Pediatric Eye Disease Study Group. Prevalence of amblyopia and strabismus in African American and Hispanic children ages 6 to 72 months: the multi-ethnic pediatric eye disease study. Ophthalmology. 2008;115:1229-1236;e1.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17953989?tool=bestpractice.com然而在很小的不会说话的孩子比大些的孩子诊断弱视更具挑战性。屈光参差性弱视比斜视性弱视更晚诊断,因为屈光参差性儿童只有检测单眼视力才能表现出视力问题的征象。[6]Attebo K, Mitchell P, Cumming R, et al. Prevalence and causes of amblyopia in an adult population. Ophthalmology. 1998;105:154-159.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9442792?tool=bestpractice.com[7]Shaw DE, Fielder AR, Minshull C, et al. Amblyopia: factors influencing age of presentation. Lancet. 1988;2:207-209.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/2899674?tool=bestpractice.com