title: Two-year follow-up of a randomized trial of spectacles plus alternate-day patching to treat strabismic amblyopia.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To compare spectacles plus alternate-day patching for 8 hr or more with spectacles plus patching for 8 hr or more 6 days weekly to treat strabismic amblyopia 1 year after a 1-year randomized trial.
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty children (mean age, 4.3 years) participated. Refractive correction was provided. The children were assigned to alternate-day patching for 8 hr or more or patching for 8 hr or more daily 6 days weekly. VA, binocular function, and refractive errors were measured after 2 years. The main outcome measure was the median VA change in the amblyopic eye after 2 years.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The median VA change in the amblyopic eye at the 2-year visit was significantly (p = 0.0453) greater with alternate-day patching (0.8 log unit) versus patching daily 6 days weekly (0.6 log unit). The final median VA in the amblyopic eyes was 0.0 logMAR in the alternate-day patching group and 0.1 logMAR in the daily patching group. Binocular function improved with both treatments. The median spherical equivalent (SE) refractive error increased in the fellow eyes (alternate-day patching, p < 0.0001; patching daily 6 days weekly, p = 0.0033); no change was found in the amblyopic eyes in either group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The magnitude of the VA change 2 years after treatment with spectacles plus alternate-day patching for 8 hr or more was significantly greater than with spectacles plus daily patching for 8 hr or more 6 days weekly for strabismic amblyopia. However, the final median VA did not differ significantly between the two treatments.
authors.affiliation: St. Erik Eye Hospital, Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, SwedenDepartment of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.
authors.forename: Pia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Agervi
authors.forename: Ulla
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Kugelberg
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kugelberg
authors.forename: Charlotta
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Zetterström
mesh_terms: D000550:Amblyopia / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D001458:Bandages; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005139:Eyeglasses; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012030:Refractive Errors / Q000503:physiopathology*; D012683:Sensory Deprivation; D013285:Strabismus / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D015348:Vision, Binocular / Q000502:physiology*; D014792:Visual Acuity / Q000502:physiology*