Part-time occlusion therapy for strabismic amblyopia in children (7-12years old)

Abstract

Background: Amblyopia is defined as unilateral, or (rarely) bilateral, decrease of best-corrected visual acuity for which there is no pathological or anatomical explanation in the eye or visual pathway. It is the most common cause of monocular visual impairment in both children and young adults. Occlusion therapy with full – time patching of the sound eye isstrongly considered as the best treatment option in case of amblyopia. Treatment of amblyopia in older children age 6 to 7 years was thought to be ineffective. Various studies have described conflicting results varying from no effect of age to a highly significant effect. 

Purpose: To assess the effect of part-time occlusion therapy on the visual acuity of children aged 7-12years with strabismic amblyopia.

Materials and Methods: prospective study included 24unilateral amblyopic (strabismic) children in the age group of 7-12 years. Baseline testing included measurement of visual acuity, cycloplegic refraction using atropine, and a complete ocular examination of both eyes. Refractive error was corrected, for at least 6 weeks before study inclusion.

Result: 24 children aged 7-12 years with strabismic amblyopia divided into four groups. Provided in Table 1. The four groups were matched for age and pre-treatment BCVA. Post-treatment visual acuity was measured at completion of 12 weeks and was compared with pre-treatment visual acuity. The results showed significant visual improvement in all four groups at the end of the study period.

Conclusion: part-time occlusion therapy showed significant improvement in visual acuity in children aged 7-12 years with mild to moderate estrabismic amblyopia and can be considered as treatment option of amblyopia in this age group specially for those with poor full -time patching compliance.Keywords: Wolfram syndrome, polyuria, secondary urological abnormalities,diabetes mellitus, diabetes insipidus, optic atropy, deafness,DIDMOAD.