title: Treatment for amblyopia: results using occlusive contact lens.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Amblyopia treatment occasionally is complicated by patch intolerance, resulting in a poor outcome. Therefore, a prospective study was designed to examine the efficacy and safety of using occlusive contact lenses in the treatment of amblyopia.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-five patients, aged 2.5 to 9.5 years, who were using an opaque hydrogel contact lens for the treatment of amblyopia, were followed prospectively.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Overall, 92% of patients improved at least one line of visual acuity. Eight patients improved > or = 2 octaves and 12 other patients improved > or = 1 octave. In three patients, the change in visual acuity was < 1 octave. Complications were seen in nine patients: contact lens irritation in five; poor contact fit in three; and peeking around the lens in one. The recurrence rate was high. In 11 of 25 patients, amblyopia rapidly returned to a reduced level when the contact lens was discontinued.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Occlusive contact lenses can be used in treating amblyopia in children. This treatment is ideal in patients who were patch-intolerant and failed with conventional treatment. Patients should have close follow up, however, to monitor any anterior segment complications from contact lens use and to identify the patients in whom amblyopia recurs.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Ochsner Clinic, New Orleans, LA 70121, USA.
authors.forename: H S
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Eustis
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Chamberlain
mesh_terms: D000550:Amblyopia / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003261:Contact Lenses; D006801:Humans; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012008:Recurrence; D012683:Sensory Deprivation; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014792:Visual Acuity