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Occlusion amblyopia may yield better long-term visual acuity outcomes
Development of occlusion amblyopia with full-time patching may yield better long-term vision in the originally amblyopic eye, according to a study.
The retrospective chart review included records of 597 patients younger than 10 years of age who were diagnosed with amblyopia and prescribed full-time patching between 1970 and 2000.
One hundred fifteen patients were diagnosed with occlusion amblyopia upon treatment with full-time patching. Seventy-five percent of these patients were diagnosed within the first full-time patching episode.
“Although occlusion amblyopia developed quickly, it also resolved quickly. Discontinuation of patching alone reversed occlusion amblyopia or equalized visual acuity in 34% of these patients,” the study authors said.
Visual acuity at final visit in eyes with occlusion amblyopia was 20/30 or better.
Interocular difference in acuity at final visit was less in patients with occlusion amblyopia (P = .003).
Patients who were younger than 36 months with full-time patching had a higher occurrence of occlusion amblyopia (P = .0002).
Age seems to be a leading influence in occlusion amblyopia, even with consideration of other factors such as amblyopia type or testing methods, the study authors said.