title: A randomized trial of levodopa as treatment for residual amblyopia in older children.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess the efficacy and short-term safety of levodopa as adjunctive treatment to patching for amblyopia.
  
  
  METHODS
  Randomized, placebo-controlled trial.
  
  
  METHODS
  One hundred thirty-nine children 7 to 12 years of age with residual amblyopia resulting from strabismus, anisometropia, or both combined (visual acuity [VA], 20/50-20/400) after patching.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sixteen weeks of oral levodopa or placebo administered 3 times daily while patching the fellow eye 2 hours daily.
  
  
  METHODS
  Mean change in best-corrected amblyopic-eye VA at 18 weeks.
  
  
  RESULTS
  At 18 weeks, amblyopic-eye VA improved from randomization by an average of 5.2 letters in the levodopa group and by 3.8 letters in the placebo group (difference adjusted for baseline VA, +1.4 letters; 1-sided P=0.06; 2-sided 95% confidence interval, -0.4 to 3.3 letters). No serious adverse effects from levodopa were reported during treatment.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  For children 7 to 12 years of age with residual amblyopia after patching therapy, oral levodopa while continuing to patch 2 hours daily does not produce a clinically or statistically meaningful improvement in VA compared with placebo and patching.
authors: Wilmer Ophthalmological Institute, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland. Electronic address: pedig@jaeb.org.
authors: Michael X
authors: MX
authors: Repka
authors: Jaeb Center for Health Research, PEDIG Coordinating Center, Tampa, Florida.
authors: Raymond T
authors: RT
authors: Kraker
authors: Jaeb Center for Health Research, PEDIG Coordinating Center, Tampa, Florida.
authors: Trevano W
authors: TW
authors: Dean
authors: Jaeb Center for Health Research, PEDIG Coordinating Center, Tampa, Florida.
authors: Roy W
authors: RW
authors: Beck
authors: Dean McGee Eye Institute, University of Oklahoma, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.
authors: R Michael
authors: RM
authors: Siatkowski
authors: Department of Ophthalmology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota.
authors: Jonathan M
authors: JM
authors: Holmes
authors: Pediatric Ophthalmology and Adult Strabismus PA, Dallas, Texas.
authors: Cynthia L
authors: CL
authors: Beauchamp
authors: Department of Ophthalmology, Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, Ohio.
authors: Richard P
authors: RP
authors: Golden
authors: Houston Eye Associates, The Woodlands, Texas.
authors: Aaron M
authors: AM
authors: Miller
authors: Pediatric Eye Associates, Wilmette, Illinois.
authors: Lisa C
authors: LC
authors: Verderber
authors: Duke Eye Center, Durham, North Carolina.
authors: David K
authors: DK
authors: Wallace
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000550:Amblyopia / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D015858:Anisometropia / Q000150:complications; D001458:Bandages; D002648:Child; D015259:Dopamine Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007980:Levodopa / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D013285:Strabismus / Q000150:complications; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014792:Visual Acuity / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D015259:Dopamine Agents; D007980:Levodopa