[Importance of occlusion therapy for amblyopia in partial unilateral congenital cataracts that are discovered late].
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study is to investigate the importance of occlusion therapy for amblyopia in patients with partial unilateral congenital cataracts that were discovered after 24 months of age.


METHODS
A retrospective study was conducted on 11 patients, each of whom underwent a clinical examination including a cycloplegic refraction with atropine. The average age when the cataract was diagnosed was 35 months. The average distance visual acuity was 6/78 and the average near visual acuity was 35/175. Occlusion therapy using adhesive patches was started after refractive error correction. In two cases, observance was mediocre.


RESULTS
Ametropia was found in every patient, with anisometropia in nine patients (alpha < 0.02). This anisometropia included an astigmatism that was always greater on the side with the cataract (alpha < 0.001), averaging 2.7 diopters. After occlusion therapy for amblyopia, the average visual acuity significantly improved to 6/22 in distance vision (alpha < 0.02) and 35/45 in near vision (alpha < 0.01). The average follow-up period was 28 months (5-60 months).


CONCLUSIONS
Amblyopia is related to lens opacities as well as frequently associated anisometropia. Functional improvement is greater in near vision than in distance vision. With occlusion therapy for amblyopia, accommodation is preserved. This factor is of utmost importance as near vision is preferential in young children. This study provides an opportunity to recall the importance of refraction and occlusion therapy for amblyopia, which must be systematically attempted in cases of partial unilateral congenital cataracts before considering a surgical procedure.
Denion
E
E
Service d'Ophtalmologie, Hôpital Huriez, CHRU de Lille, avenue Michel Polonovski, 59037 Lille cedex, France. eric.denion@caramail.com
Dedes
V
V
Bonne
M
M
Labalette
P
P
Berger
C
C
Guilbert
F
F
Bouckehove
S
S
Rouland
J-F
JF
D000550:Amblyopia / Q000209:etiology* / Q000628:therapy*; D002386:Cataract / Q000150:complications* / Q000151:congenital* / Q000175:diagnosis; D002675:Child, Preschool; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013997:Time Factors