title: Occlusion and levodopa-carbidopa treatment for childhood amblyopia.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of the current study was to compare the effects of levodopa-carbidopa with and without part-time occlusion on visual function in older amblyopic children.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirteen older amblyopic children were randomly assigned to receive or not receive part-time occlusion (3 h/day) combined with 7 weeks of oral dosing with levodopa-carbidopa (1.02 mg/0.25 mg/kg body weight three times daily). Visual acuity, contrast sensitivity, and fusion were measured at baseline; 1, 3, 5, and 7 weeks during the treatment regimen; and 4 weeks after termination of all treatment. At these same times health status was assessed with standard laboratory blood tests, physical examination, and subjective questionnaire.
  
  
  RESULTS
  From baseline to the follow-up test trial, both groups improved in visual acuity in the amblyopic eyes (occlusion group 20/116 to 20/76, P < .001; no occlusion group 20/90 to 20/73, P < .01) and dominant eyes (occlusion group 20/18 to 20/15, P > .05; no occlusion group 20/20 to 20/16, P < .01). The occlusion group exhibited a significant decrease in the difference in acuity between the dominant and amblyopic eyes of 1.3 lines (P < .02), whereas the no occlusion group revealed no significant effect. A comparison between groups revealed a significantly greater improvement in visual acuity in the amblyopic eye in the occlusion group compared with the no occlusion group (P = .01). In contrast, there was no significant difference between groups in terms of the change in visual acuity in the dominant eye (P = .15). Mean log contrast sensitivity in the amblyopic eye significantly improved in the occlusion group and did not significantly change in the no occlusion group. Fusion changed similarly in both groups. The improvements in visual function were maintained 4 weeks after the termination of all treatment. Adverse side effects were minimal in both groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The combination of levodopa-carbidopa and occlusion improves visual function more than levodopa-carbidopa alone in older amblyopic children.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Children's Hospital, Columbus, Ohio 43205, USA.
authors.forename: L E
authors.initials: LE
authors.lastname: Leguire
authors.forename: G L
authors.initials: GL
authors.lastname: Rogers
authors.forename: P D
authors.initials: PD
authors.lastname: Walson
authors.forename: D L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Bremer
authors.forename: M L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: McGregor
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000550:Amblyopia / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D002230:Carbidopa / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002648:Child; D015350:Contrast Sensitivity; D018491:Dopamine Agonists / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004338:Drug Combinations; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007980:Levodopa / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D010349:Patient Compliance; D012683:Sensory Deprivation; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014787:Vision Tests; D014792:Visual Acuity
chemical_list: D018491:Dopamine Agonists; D004338:Drug Combinations; C009265:carbidopa, levodopa drug combination; D007980:Levodopa; D002230:Carbidopa