NEI study: Atropine as effective as patching for amblyopia

WASHINGTON — Atropine eye drops given once daily for the treatment of amblyopia is as effective a treatment as patching one eye, according to data from the Amblyopia Treatment Study.

According to the National Eye Institute, researchers found using atropine daily over a 6-month period works as effectively as eye patching and may encourage better compliance. An NEI news release notes amblyopia treatment should be started at an early age, as the condition is more easily remedied in children under 7 years of age.

In the Amblyopia Treatment Study, 215 children were randomly assigned to wear an eye patch, and 204 were assigned to receive atropine. The eye patch group had a success rate of 79%, and the atropine group had a success rate of 74%. While researchers found vision in the amblyopic eye improved faster in the eye patch group, the difference at the 6 month follow-up was not significant.

“This new study found that atropine eye drops had a higher acceptance rate and better compliance by children and their parents than did patching,” said Paul Sieving, MD, PhD, director of NEI. “This may well become a new standard treatment for some forms of amblyopia.”

Children currently enrolled in the study will be followed until April 2003. These results appear in the March issue of Archives of Ophthalmology.