Amblyopia treatment outcomes.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the effectiveness and side effects of full-time occlusion for the treatment of amblyopia.


METHODS
Patients with unilateral amblyopia secondary to strabismus, anisometropia, or a combination of the two were retrospective reviewed. All patients had full-time occlusion encompassing 24 hours per day or all waking hours, followed to a defined endpoint. Success was defined as 20/30 or better or equal visual acuity by fixation pattern between the two eyes. The ultimate goal was equal visual acuity.


RESULTS
Six hundred patients fit the inclusion criteria. Mean follow-up after the cessation of full-time patching was 7.2 years. Eighty-nine percent were followed for more than 1 year. Mean age at last follow-up visit was 10.82 years. Ninety-six percent of patients attained a successful visual result. Sixty percent attained equal visual acuity. Younger patients required less occlusion time to endpoint and had a better visual outcome ( P < 0.0001). Initial visual acuity was significantly related to best visual acuity attained ( P < 0.0001). The incidence of occlusion amblyopia was 25.8%.


CONCLUSIONS
Full-time occlusion produces excellent visual acuity results. It was shown to be effective with no long-term complications if patients proceed as directed.
Scott
William E
WE
Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Iowa Health Care, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA.
Kutschke
Pamela J
PJ
Keech
Ronald V
RV
Pfeifer
Wanda L
WL
Nichols
Brian
B
Zhang
Linna
L
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000550:Amblyopia / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D015858:Anisometropia / Q000150:complications; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D012029:Refraction, Ocular / Q000502:physiology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012683:Sensory Deprivation; D013285:Strabismus / Q000150:complications; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014792:Visual Acuity / Q000502:physiology*