Personalising Patching for Amblyopia Treatment

Ianina Conte

doi:10.3310/nihropenres.1115177.1

Abstract

Personalising Patching for Amblyopia Treatment

Highlights

Amblyopia is a developmental anomaly of human spatial vision in which a deficit of resolution cannot immediately be alleviated by refractive correction in an otherwise healthy eye
[2] Research in the ‘60s and ‘70s demonstrated that the developing visual system is highly sensitive to deprivation
[3] This led to the concept of a visual sensitive period, ending at around 6 to 7 years, which if interrupted by any obstacle such as blurred vision and/or strabismus, results in amblyopia

Summary

Background

Amblyopia is a developmental anomaly of human spatial vision in which a deficit of resolution cannot immediately be alleviated by refractive correction in an otherwise healthy eye. Associated risk factors include strabismus (ocular misalignment), anisometropia (a significant difference in refractive power between the two eyes), cataract (lens opacity), and ptosis (eyelid drooping). It is the commonest visual disorder of childhood in the Western world (2-5%) [1] and in the UK accounts for approximately 9 out of every 10 appointments to the NHS Children’s Eye Service. In the UK and the USA national screening for strabismus and amblyopia is recommended between 4 and 5 years [4] and 3 and 4 years [5] respectively Such a massive investment requires that amblyopia therapy is both effective and efficient. This report undoubtedly did much to promote an evidence-based approach to treatment evaluation leading to a series of randomised controlled clinical trials broadly concluding that treatment can improve spatial vision of the affected eye. [7-15]

Aims and objectives

Methods

Findings

Key findings