Atropine vs patching for treatment of moderate amblyopia: follow-up at 15 years of age of a randomized clinical trial.
OBJECTIVE
Initial treatment for amblyopia of the fellow eye with patching and atropine sulfate eyedrops improves visual acuity. Long-term data on the durability of treatment benefit are needed.


OBJECTIVE
To report visual acuity at 15 years of age among patients who were younger than 7 years when enrolled in a treatment trial for moderate amblyopia.


METHODS
In a multicenter clinical trial, 419 children with amblyopia (visual acuity, 20/40 to 20/100) were randomly assigned to patching (minimum of 6 h/d) or atropine sulfate eyedrops, 1% (1 drop daily), for 6 months. Treatment after 6 months was at the discretion of the investigator. Two years after enrollment, an unselected subgroup of 188 children were enrolled into long-term follow-up.


METHODS
Initial treatment with patching or atropine with subsequent treatment at investigator discretion.


METHODS
Visual acuity at 15 years of age with the electronic Early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Study test in amblyopic and fellow eyes.


RESULTS
Mean visual acuity in the amblyopic eye measured in 147 participants at 15 years of age was 0.14 logMAR (approximately 20/25); 59.9% of amblyopic eyes had visual acuity of 20/25 or better and 33.3%, 20/20 or better. Mean interocular acuity difference (IOD) at 15 years of age was 0.21 logMAR (2.1 lines); 48.3% had an IOD of 2 or more lines and 71.4%, 1 or more lines. Treatment (other than spectacles) was prescribed for 9 participants (6.1%) aged 10 to 15 years. Mean IOD was similar at examinations at 10 and 15 years of age (2.0 and 2.1 logMAR lines, respectively; P = .39). Better visual acuity at the 15-year examination was achieved in those who were younger than 5 years at the time of entry into the randomized clinical trial (mean logMAR, 0.09) compared with those aged 5 to 6 years (mean logMAR, 0.18; P < .001). When we compared subgroups based on original treatment with atropine or patching, no significant differences were observed in visual acuity of amblyopic and fellow eyes at 15 years of age (P = .44 and P = .43, respectively).


CONCLUSIONS
At 15 years of age, most children treated for moderate amblyopia when younger than 7 years have good visual acuity, although mild residual amblyopia is common. The outcome is similar regardless of initial treatment with atropine or patching. The results indicate that improvement occurring with amblyopia treatment is maintained until at least 15 years of age.


BACKGROUND
clinicaltrials.gov Identifier: NCT00000170.
Wilmer Ophthalmological Institute, The John Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland.
Michael X
MX
Repka
Pediatric Eye Disease Investigator Group Coordinating Center, Jaeb Center for Health Research, Tampa, Florida.
Raymond T
RT
Kraker
Department of Ophthalmology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota.
Jonathan M
JM
Holmes
Casey Eye Institute, Portland, Oregon.
Allison I
AI
Summers
currently in private practice, Rockville, Maryland.
Stephen R
SR
Glaser
Southern California College of Optometry, Fullerton.
Carmen N
CN
Barnhardt
Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus Associates, Providence, Rhode Island.
David R
DR
Tien
D000293:Adolescent; D000550:Amblyopia / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D001285:Atropine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001458:Bandages; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D009184:Mydriatics / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D009883:Ophthalmic Solutions; D010349:Patient Compliance; D012683:Sensory Deprivation; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D015348:Vision, Binocular / Q000502:physiology; D014792:Visual Acuity / Q000502:physiology
D009184:Mydriatics; D009883:Ophthalmic Solutions; D001285:Atropine