title: Stability of visual acuity improvement following discontinuation of amblyopia treatment in children aged 7 to 12 years.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Jaeb Center for Health Research, 15310 Amberly Drive, Tampa, FL 33647, USA. pedig@jaeb.org
authors.forename: Richard W
authors.initials: RW
authors.lastname: Hertle
authors.forename: Mitchell M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Scheiman
authors.forename: Roy W
authors.initials: RW
authors.lastname: Beck
authors.forename: Danielle L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Chandler
authors.forename: Darron A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Bacal
authors.forename: Eileen
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Birch
authors.forename: Raymond H
authors.initials: RH
authors.lastname: Chu
authors.forename: Jonathan M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Holmes
authors.forename: Deborah L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Klimek
authors.forename: Katherine A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Michael X
authors.initials: MX
authors.lastname: Repka
authors.forename: David R
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Weakley
mesh_terms: 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
chemical_list: D001285:Atropine