Background & Objective: In order to avoid amblyopia, the welfare organization of Iran performs a special program every year. Since there was no research regarding the mistake rates made by the educators, this study was conducted to determine the probable differences between educators and optometrists in terms of their mistakes in examining amblyopia. The study aimed also at decreasing the amount of this difference and programming for the better performance of amblyopia examination in the future.

 Methods: This study was performed on 260 children in 22 nursery schools of Ardabil using systematic sampling method. These children were first examined by the educators and after some time they were examined for a second time by optometrists using retinoscopy and the fingertip. The data was collected using a questionnaire filled out by both the educators and the optometrists. This data was then analyzed by X² tests and ANOVA using SPSS program.

 Results: 51.2% of the subjects were male and the rest of them (48.8%) were female. 63.5% of the nursery schools (day- care centers) were private and the others were run by the ministry of education. 13.8% of the subjects used eye glasses and 8.1% were under the control of a physician. 36.4% of the centers did not observe the standard interval. 18.8% of the educators were not skillful enough. 17.7% of the children suffered from astigmatism and 5.3% of them had a weak eyesight. Because of these factors, there was a 17.7% difference between the examination of educators and that of the optometrists.

 Conclusions: It seems necessary for the authorities to have better and more careful programs in the future for examining amblyopia.

 Background & Objective: The nationwide amblyopia prevention program is performed by prevention deputy of welfare organization every year. In this analytic report practical results of screening program in 1998-2001 were presented and compared with similar findings in other countries. The results were also compared with the findings of previous similar researches in Iran.

  Methods : The amblyopia screening program was performed on all 3-65 year-old children in day-care centers as well as those referring to the visual acuity measuring centers. The first examination was accomplished by trainers. In the second step doubtful cases were referred to optometrist by trainers and amblyopia was diagnosed by an optometrist and confirmed by an eye specialist after excluding organic causes.

 Results: 608 out of 8427(7.21%) children examined by trainers in 2001 were referred to an optometrist because of suspected visual disorders. The prevalence of amblyopia in different cities of Ardabil province was 2%-15%. The figures in 2000-2001 were 10% (Rangs=1%-13%), respectively. In 1998 it was 11% (Range =5%-13%). In the second phase of amblyopia plan the prevalence of visual problems was estimated about 21%, 45%, 47%, and 74% in 1998-2001, respectively. In the third phase of the plan the amblyopia prevalence for children examined by eye-specialist in 1999-2001 were 1.6%, 1.41% and 1.25% respectively.

 Conclusions: In this research the prevalence of amblyopia was found to be 1.42% which has a conformity with the findings of other countries. Moreover, the higher variation in the estimation of the prevalence of visual disorders in this province requires further comparative researches.

 Background & objectives:�Amblyopia as one of the most important social and visual problems is common in the world including Iran. It plays a major role in visual dimness. The aim of this study was to determine prevalence and causes of amblyopia in middle school students in Ardabil city, Iran in 2004.

 Methods: In this descriptive cross-sectional study 4548 middle school students were included. The subjects primarily were screened by optometrists and an ophthalmologist by using of Snelen chart. The doubtful cases were referred to eye clinic for further checking and re-examined by ophthalmologist. The data were collected by questionnaire and the results were analyzed by descriptive and analytical statistics using SPSS software.

  Results: The results cleared that 11.4% of subjects (520) had refractive errors, 2.63% (120) showed the amblyopia and 0.9% (43) experienced strabismus. The most common cause of amblyopia was anisometropia (59% of all cases) and for strabismus was isotropia (69.5% of all cases). These findings showed that there is a significant correlation between type and rate of refractive defects with amblyopia. The highest rate for refractive amblyopia was over 3 Diopter hyperopia (29.5% of refractive amblyopia). Hyperopia revealed to occur in males more than females and vice versa for astigmatism

  Conclusion : It seems that the prevalence of amplyopia in Ardabil is similar to other cities in Iran and other countries. But the refractive amblyopia in Ardabil shows more prevalent than other areas. Its reason may be due to less knowledge to use glass and low socio-economic conditions as well as low quality of treatment.