Update Augenheilkunde – Amblyopie und Refraktionsfehler

Der folgende Beitrag stellt zwei aktuelle Themen der Kinderophthalmologie in den Fokus, die vermutlich auch immer wieder in der kinder- und jugendarztlichen Praxis relevant sein werden: die Amblyopie und ihre Fruherkennung inklusive Videorefraktometrie und Refraktionsfehler im Schulkindalter mit Fokus auf Myopie, deren Haufigkeit weltweit zunimmt Myopia is on the increase worldwide and will become a major challenge over the next decades in terms of secondary ophthalmologic complications. There are effective therapeutic options available to slow or prevent the progression of myopia. So far, it has not been investigated whether there are possible additive effects of these interventions. Further investigations – especially in Caucasian populations – are necessary to verify the study results available from Asia. There is limited data on how long further progression of myopia is preventable. A therapy appears reasonable as long as a progression of myopia is detectable. Consistent childhood amblyopia screening provides a cost-effective measure for the prevention of visual disturbances over the course of life. How this can be best integrated into the existing system of “U-investigations”, must be clarified by the cost-bearers and professional associations. This discourse should be supported by close interdisciplinary exchange and further studies on the prevalence of different degrees of amblyopia. In addition, sensitive and specific or even multi-stage tests should be developed in order to implement an early detection that is cost-effective and saves resources.