A randomized trial of patching regimens for treatment of moderate amblyopia in children.
OBJECTIVE
To compare 2 hours vs 6 hours of daily patching as treatments for moderate amblyopia in children younger than 7 years.


METHODS
In a randomized multicenter (35 sites) clinical trial, 189 children younger than 7 years with amblyopia in the range of 20/40 to 20/80 were assigned to receive either 2 hours or 6 hours of daily patching combined with at least 1 hour per day of near visual activities during patching.Main Outcome Measure Visual acuity in the amblyopic eye after 4 months.


RESULTS
Visual acuity in the amblyopic eye improved a similar amount in both groups. The improvement in the visual acuity of the amblyopic eye from baseline to 4 months averaged 2.40 lines in each group (P =.98). The 4-month visual acuity was at least 20/32 and/or improved from baseline by 3 or more lines in 62% of patients in each group (P>.99).


CONCLUSIONS
When combined with prescribing 1 hour of near visual activities, 2 hours of daily patching produces an improvement in visual acuity that is of similar magnitude to the improvement produced by 6 hours of daily patching in treating moderate amblyopia in children aged 3 to 7 years.
Jaeb Center for Health Research, Tampa, FL 33613, USA. rbeck@jaeb.org
Michael X
MX
Repka
Roy W
RW
Beck
Jonathan M
JM
Holmes
Eileen E
EE
Birch
Danielle L
DL
Chandler
Susan A
SA
Cotter
Richard W
RW
Hertle
Raymond T
RT
Kraker
Pamela S
PS
Moke
Graham E
GE
Quinn
Mitchell M
MM
Scheiman
D000550:Amblyopia / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D001458:Bandages; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010349:Patient Compliance; D012683:Sensory Deprivation; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014792:Visual Acuity / Q000502:physiology