Stability of visual acuity improvement following discontinuation of amblyopia treatment in children aged 7 to 12 years.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the stability of visual acuity improvement during the first year after cessation of amblyopia treatment other than spectacle wear in children aged 7 to 12 years.


METHODS
At the completion of a multicenter randomized trial during which amblyopia treated with patching and atropine improved by at least 2 lines on the electronic Early Treatment of Diabetic Retinopathy Study testing protocol, 80 patients aged 7 to 12 years were followed up while not receiving treatment (other than spectacle wear) for 1 year.


METHODS
Ten letters or more (> or =2 lines) worsening of visual acuity (measured using the electronic Early Treatment of Diabetic Retinopathy Study testing protocol) during the year following treatment discontinuation.


RESULTS
During the year following cessation of treatment, the cumulative probability of worsening visual acuity (> or =2 lines) was 7% (95% confidence interval, 3%-17%); 82% of patients maintained an increase in visual acuity of 10 letters or more compared with their visual acuity before starting treatment.


CONCLUSIONS
Visual acuity improvement occurring during amblyopia treatment is sustained in most children aged 7 to 12 years for at least 1 year after discontinuing treatment other than spectacle wear.


BACKGROUND
ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT00094692.
Hertle
Richard W
RW
Jaeb Center for Health Research, 15310 Amberly Drive, Tampa, FL 33647, USA. pedig@jaeb.org
Scheiman
Mitchell M
MM
Beck
Roy W
RW
Chandler
Danielle L
DL
Bacal
Darron A
DA
Birch
Eileen
E
Chu
Raymond H
RH
Holmes
Jonathan M
JM
Klimek
Deborah L
DL
Lee
Katherine A
KA
Repka
Michael X
MX
Weakley
David R
DR
D000550:Amblyopia / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000628:therapy*; D001285:Atropine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002648:Child; D005139:Eyeglasses; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012683:Sensory Deprivation; D014792:Visual Acuity / Q000502:physiology*; D028761:Withholding Treatment
D001285:Atropine