title: [A preliminary report of the effect of levodopa and carbidopa for childhood amblyopia].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To explore the short-term effect of levodopa and carbidopa in 36 children (4.5-14 years) with refractory amblyopia.
  
  
  METHODS
  36 cases of incurable childhood amblyopia treated with occlussion with visual acuity stably for 6 months were retreated by levodopa and carbidopa 1.5 mg/kg, 0.38 mg/kg respectively for 3 months. Visual acuity, fusional and stereoscopic function, retinal light sensitivity and scotomas were observed at 1 and 3 months after tablet taken. Medicine side effects were observed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  At 3 months, the visual acuity of 88.89% eyes were improved(average 2.27 +/- 1.26 line), fusional and stereoscopic function were restored in 10 and 6 cases respectively. Retinal light sensitivity significantly increased, scotomas disappeared in 19 eyes and contracted in 6 eyes. The basic cure rate was 42.86% Less side effect were found.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Average dose levels(1.5/0.38 mg/kg) of levodopa and carbidopa were an effective and secuity method to improve visual function of refractory childhood amblyopia.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Xiangya Hospital, Hunan Medical University, Changsha 410008, China.
authors.forename: X
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.forename: X
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Ming
authors.forename: X
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Tan
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000550:Amblyopia / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D002230:Carbidopa / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D015259:Dopamine Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007980:Levodopa / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D012607:Scotoma / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy; D014792:Visual Acuity
chemical_list: D015259:Dopamine Agents; D007980:Levodopa; D002230:Carbidopa