Asymmetrical accommodation in hyperopic anisometropic amblyopia

Rehabilitation of amblyopia using a digital platform for visual training combined with patching in children: a prospective study

PURPOSE

To assess the possible benefits of the use of perceptual learning and dichoptic therapy combined with patching in children with amblyopia over the use of only patching.

METHODS

Quasi-experimental multicentric study including 52 amblyopic children. Patients who improved their visual acuity (VA) by combining spectacles and patching were included in patching group (PG: 20 subjects), whereas those that did not improved with patching performed visual training (perceptual learning + dichoptic therapy) combined with patching, being assigned to the visual treatment group (VT: 32 subjects). Changes in VA, contrast sensitivity (CS), and stereopsis were monitored during a 6-month follow-up in each group.

RESULTS

Significant improvements in VA were found in both groups at 1 month (p < 0.01). The total improvement of VA was 0.18 ± 0.16 and 0.31 ± 0.35 logMAR in PG and VT groups, respectively (p = 0.317). The Wilcoxon effect size was slightly higher in VT (0.48 vs. 0.54) at 6 months. An enhancement in CS was observed in the amblyopic eye of the VT group for all spatial frequencies at 1 month (p < 0.001). Likewise, the binocular function score also increased significantly in VT group (p = 0.002). A prediction equation of VA improvement at 1 month in VT group was obtained by multiple linear regression analysis (p < 0.001, R2 = 0.747).

CONCLUSIONS

A combined treatment of visual training and patching is effective for obtaining a predictable improvement of VA, CS, and binocularity in patching-resistant amblyopic children.

Optic Coherence Tomography for Accommodation Control in Children with Hyperopic Anisometropia and Amblyopia

The aim is to evaluate the ocular accommodation system in hyperopic anisometropia and amblyopia in children after femtosecond laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis (FS-LASIK) and in children with spectacle correction using optical coherence tomography (OCT).

Materials and Methods

The present study included children with hyperopia and anisometropia of more than 3 D, high and medium degree of amblyopia. Patients were divided into two groups: group 1 consisted of 30 children after FS-LASIK, group 2 was comprised of 30 children with spectacle correction. The temporal part of the ciliary muscle was assessed using the CASIA2 optical coherence tomography system (Tomey, Japan). The study was carried out with a narrow pupil fixing the gaze on the target at a distance of 33 cm and under cycloplegic conditions. The ciliary muscle thickness (CMT) was analyzed at four different levels: the maximum thickness of the ciliary muscle (CMTmax), and at a distance of 1, 2, and 3 mm from the scleral spur (CMT1, CMT2, and CMT3, respectively). The fluctuation amplitude in the thickness of the ciliary muscle (ΔCMT), i.e. the ratio of indicators with a narrow and wide pupil, was also evaluated.

Results

The ciliary muscle thickness of the amblyopic eye in group 1 was 808±38 μm for CMTmax, 724±54 μm for CMT1, 446±44 μm for CMT2, and 223±37 μm for CMT3, these indicators in group 2 were 812±33, 735±33, 432±35, and 229±29 μm, respectively.Children of group 1 have been found to have an increase in ΔCMT of the amblyopic eye. The value of ACMTmax increased from 21±6 to 30±4 μm, ACMT1 from 19±6 to 29±5 μm, ACMT2 from 12±4 to 16±4 μm, ACMT3 from 11±4 to 16±4 μm, which is associated with an increase in visual acuity and a decrease in the refractive component. All changes within the group were statistically significant (p<0.01).

Conclusion

OCT is a fairly informative method for studying the accommodative structures of the eye in children, providing the opportunity to objectively assess the amplitude of fluctuations in the thickness of the ciliary muscle during the treatment. It has been established that after refraction operation, the work of the ciliary muscle of the amblyopic eye was significantly improved, which is reflected in the increased values of ΔCMT, CMT2, and CMT3 and brings these parameters closer to those of the better paired leading eye.

Comparison of Retinal and Choroidal Microvasculature Changes in Monocular Amblyopic and Non-amblyopic Eyes following Short-term Patch Occlusion Treatment

PURPOSE

Our objective was to investigate whether there were differences in the short-term changes of retinal and choroidal microvasculature between amblyopic and non-amblyopic eyes after patch occlusion treatment in patients with monocular amblyopia. Additionally, we aimed to determine if these changes were associated with improvements in clinical parameters.

METHODS

We conducted a retrospective, longitudinal paired-eye case-control study by analyzing the medical records of patients under the age of 12 who had monocular amblyopia and underwent patch occlusion treatment for a duration of 2 to 12 months. Using optical coherence tomography angiography images, we compared the foveal avascular zone width, retinal blood vessel density (VD), choroidal thickness (CT), and choroidal vascularity index (CVI) in amblyopic and non-amblyopic eyes before and after patch occlusion treatment. We analyzed the correlations between the aforementioned parameters and changes in best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) and stereopsis.

RESULTS

Overall, 114 eyes from 57 patients were enrolled. At baseline, parafoveal superficial plexus VD, foveal and parafoveal deep capillary plexus VD (DCPD) were lower by 0.994 ± 3.312% (p = .026), 2.403 ± 8.273% (p = .033), and 2.469 ± 4.095% (p < .001), respectively; CT was thicker by 30.6 ± 90.7 μm (p = .014); and CVI was higher by 1.920 ± 3.432% (p < 001) in the amblyopic eyes than in the non-amblyopic eyes. Following short-term patch occlusion treatment, foveal and parafoveal DCPD increased by 1.264 ± 3.829% (p = .017) and 1.028 ± 3.662% (p = .036), respectively, CT thinned by 15.5 ± 51.5 μm (p = .019), and CVI decreased by 1.296 ± 3.997% (p = .018) in the amblyopic eyes. Following patch occlusion treatment, as the foveal DCPD decreased and CVI increased, the BCVA improved (p = .017 and .035, respectively).

CONCLUSION

Following patch occlusion treatment, increased foveal DCPD and decreased CVI were associated with improved BCVA.

Short-term effects of occlusion therapy and optical correction on microvasculature in monocular amblyopia: a retrospective case-control study

This retrospective longitudinal case-control study investigated the short-term effects of patch occlusion treatment compared with optical correction on the microvasculature in monocular amblyopia. We included patients with monocular amblyopia treated for 2-12 months; they were classified into two groups according to the treatment regimen: patch occlusion or optical correction. Children aged < 12 years who presented to our clinic for examination without amblyopia diagnosis were enrolled as the control group. Changes in retinal and choroid microvasculature according to treatment were examined, and the correlation between changes in microvasculature and improvement in best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) was evaluated. There were 57, 35, and 41 patients in the patch occlusion, optical correction, and control groups, respectively (mean age, 6.4 ± 2.0 years). Both amblyopic groups showed changes in the foveal and parafoveal deep capillary plexus vessel density (DCPD), choroidal thickness, and choroidal vascularity index (CVI) following short-term treatment (mean, 4.5 months). In the patch occlusion group, BCVA improved as the foveal DCPD increased (P = 0.013) and the CVI decreased (P = 0.037). In the optical correction group, BCVA improved as the foveal and parafoveal DCPD increased (P = 0.009). Increased foveal DCPD following amblyopia treatment and decreased CVI by patch occlusion were associated with improved BCVA.

Bifocal use in hyperopic anisometropic amblyopia treated with atropine: a proof-of-concept randomized trial

OBJECTIVES

To investigate the effect of bifocal wearing in the amblyopic eye when atropine is used in the sound eye for the treatment of hyperopic anisometropic amblyopia.

METHODS

Children 4-8 years old were randomly assigned to bifocal + atropine (n = 16) or only atropine (control, n = 19) groups of treatment in a proof-of-concept study. Measurements included visual acuity (logMAR), prism and cover test, stereoacuity (Randot preschool or Randot circles), contrast sensitivity (MARS test), accommodation (Grand Seiko WAM5500 and dynamic retinoscopy), retinoscopic and subjective refraction, before starting treatment and at 6 months, except accommodation, which was remeasured at 9-11 months. Main outcome measure was change in logMAR lines of visual acuity, and secondary outcome measures were change in stereoacuity and contrast sensitivity in the amblyopic eye, at 6 months.

RESULTS

Improvement in visual acuity of the amblyopic eye was significantly better (p = 0.04) in the atropine plus bifocal (3.3 ± 0.9 logMAR lines) than in the atropine only group (2.6 ± 0.8 logMAR lines), whereas change in stereoacuity and contrast sensitivity was not significantly different between the two groups. Differences in accommodative gain, which was impaired in the amblyopic compared to the sound eye, before treatment, decreased after treatment, in the atropine group (0.62 ± 0.16 vs 0.79 ± 0.2, p = 0.3), and atropine + bifocal group (0.69 ± 0.15 vs 0.82 ± 0.2, p = 0.4).

CONCLUSIONS

Use of bifocal lens add in the amblyopic eye of children with hyperopic anisometropic amblyopia, treated by atropine penalization, is beneficial in the follow-up period of 6 months.

Changes in Choroidal Thickness and Structure Induced by 1% Atropine Instillation in Children With Hyperopic Anisometropic Amblyopia

PURPOSE

To investigate the effects of 1% atropine eye drops on the choroidal thickness and structure of amblyopic and fellow eyes in children with hyperopic anisometropic amblyopia.

METHODS

This study included 16 children with hypermetropic anisometropic amblyopia. All patients received 1% atropine eye drops in both eyes twice a day for 7 days. In the subfoveal choroidal region, choroidal thickness, total choroidal area, luminal area, and stromal area were measured quantitatively using swept-source optical coherence tomography. The choroidal parameters of the amblyopic and fellow eyes were compared between the baseline and atropine conditions.

RESULTS

There were no significant differences in all choroidal parameters of the amblyopic eye between baseline and atropine conditions. However, the subfoveal choroidal thickness in the fellow eye was significantly higher for the atropine condition than the baseline condition. This change was accompanied by a significant increase in both the luminal and stromal areas of the choroid. The median differences of subfoveal choroidal thickness between the conditions were larger for the fellow eye (6.46%) than the amblyopic eye (0.26%).

CONCLUSIONS

The choroidal structural change induced by 1% atropine instillation was smaller for the amblyopic eye than the fellow eye in children with hyperopic anisometropic amblyopia. Mechanisms of choroidal thickness changes could be inhibited in amblyopic eyes. [J Pediatr Ophthalmol Strabismus. 2023;60(1):39-45.].

Efficacy of vision therapy for unilateral refractive amblyopia in children aged 7-10 years

Background

There is a critical period for visual development, conventionally considered to be the first 6 years of life. Children aged 7 years and older are significantly less responsive to amblyopia treatment. This study investigated the efficacy of binocular vision therapy in amblyopic children aged 7–10 years.

Methods

This retrospective study enrolled 36 children with unilateral amblyopia who were divided into a case group (receiving vision therapy, optical correction, and part-time patching of the weaker eye) and a control group (receiving optical correction and part-time patching of the weaker eye). Visual acuity (VA) was measured at baseline, at the 3-month, 6-month, and 9-month visits, and 3 months after cessation of treatment.

Results

There were 19 subjects in the case group and 17 subjects in the control group. Mean VA in the case group improved from 0.39 ± 0.24 logMAR at baseline to 0.10 ± 0.23 logMAR at the endpoint of treatment (p < 0.001, paired t-test). Mean VA in the control group improved from 0.64 ± 0.30 logMAR at baseline to 0.52 ± 0.27 logMAR at the endpoint of treatment (p = 0.015, paired t-test). The improvement was significantly greater in the case group than in the control group (p = 0.006, two-samples independent t-test). All subjects underwent follow-up examinations within 6 to 12 months. There was no regression of VA in the case group 3 months after cessation of vision therapy. The patients in the case group who received visual therapy were with better VA improvement then patients with only optic correction and patching.

Conclusions

Vision therapy combined with conventional treatment (optical correction and part-time patching) is more effective than conventional treatment alone in children aged 7–10 years with unilateral refractive amblyopia. The treatment results not only in greater vision gain, but also in shorter duration of treatment.

Assessment of choroidal vascularity and choriocapillaris blood perfusion in Chinese preschool-age anisometropic hyperopic amblyopia children

PURPOSE

To determine the macular and peripapillary area choroid microstructure parameters of hyperopic anisometropic amblyopia eyes and compare to fellow and age-matched control eyes. To assess the correlation between the axial length (AL), choroidal thickness (CT) and choroid microstructure parameters.

METHODS

This cross-sectional comparative, non-interventional study involved 52 hyperopic anisometropic amblyopia children and 48 age-matched heathy controls. 52 eyes with hyperopic anisometropic amblyopia and 48 age-matched control eyes were studied. The peripapillary and subfoveal CT were determined. The total choroidal area (TCA), luminal area (LA), and stromal area (SA) of the subfoveal and peripapillary choroid were measured. In addition, the correlation between the AL, CT and choroid microstructure parameters were calculated.

RESULTS

The peripapillary and subfoveal CT of the amblyopic eyes was significantly thicker than the fellow and control eyes (all P < 0.05). The subfoveal and peripapillary choroidal SA, LA and TCA of the amblyopic eyes were significantly increased than that of the fellow and control eyes (all P < 0.05). The choroidal vascularity index (CVI) values of the amblyopic eye were significantly different among the three groups (P < 0.05). There was a statistically significant negative correlation between AL and subfoveal CT (SFCT), LA and TCA levels (P < 0.001, P = 0.039, P = 0.027, respectively). Spherical equivalent (SE) was positive correlated with SFCT, LA and TCA levels (P = 0.456, 0.229 and 0.240, respectively; all P < 0.05). There was a statistically significant positive correlation between SFCT, SE, LA, SA, TCA and CVI levels (all P < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

The subfoveal and peripapillary CT of amblyopic children abnormally increased and correlated with shorter AL and higher SE. The choroidal structure of the amblyopic eyes was different from the fellow and control eyes, the hyperopic anisometropic amblyopic eyes had significantly thicker sub-foveal choroid, higher LA, SA, and TCA. AL and CT affect choroidal structure and vascular density. Choroidal blood flow may be increased in amblyopic eyes. The larger LA, SA, TCA, and lower CVI were characteristic of the amblyopic eye.

Accommodative Exercises to Lower Intraocular Pressure

Purpose

This study investigated how a conscious change in ocular accommodation affects intraocular pressure (IOP) and ocular biometrics in healthy adult volunteers of different ages.

Methods

Thirty-five healthy volunteers without ocular disease or past ocular surgery, and with refractive error between −3.50 and +2.50 diopters, were stratified into 20, 40, and 60 year old (y.o.) age groups. Baseline measurements of central cornea thickness, anterior chamber depth, anterior chamber angle, cornea diameter, pupil size, and ciliary muscle thickness were made by autorefraction and optical coherence tomography (OCT), while IOP was measured by pneumotonometry. Each subject's right eye focused on a target 40 cm away. Three different tests were performed in random order: (1) 10 minutes of nonaccommodation (gazing at the target through lenses that allowed clear vision without accommodating), (2) 10 minutes of accommodation (addition of a minus 3 diopter lens), and (3) 10 minutes of alternating between accommodation and nonaccommodation (1-minute intervals). IOP was measured immediately after each test. A 20-minute rest period was provided between tests. Data from 31 subjects were included in the study. ANOVA and paired t-tests were used for statistical analyses.

Results

Following alternating accommodation, IOP decreased by 0.7 mmHg in the right eye when all age groups were combined (p = 0.029). Accommodation or nonaccommodation alone did not decrease IOP. Compared to the 20 y.o. group, the 60 y.o. group had a thicker ciliary muscle within 75 μm of the scleral spur, a thinner ciliary muscle at 125–300 μm from the scleral spur, narrower anterior chamber angles, shallower anterior chambers, and smaller pupils during accommodation and nonaccommodation (p's < 0.01).

Conclusion

Alternating accommodation, but not constant accommodation, significantly decreased IOP. This effect was not lost with aging despite physical changes to the aging eye. A greater accommodative workload and/or longer test period may improve the effect.

Prescription for astigmatic ametropia revisited

The approach to any refractive condition of the eye with regular astigmatism is more complicated than that for myopia or hyperopia alone. It requires familiarity with the complex images collectively identified as Sturm's conoid. Fortunately, only three of those play a critical role in the interpretation of ametropia with astigmatism. This manuscript discusses a prescription strategy for ametropias associated with regular astigmatism evolved from those three key images.

Effect of optical correction on choroidal structure in children with anisohypermetropic amblyopia

The aim of this study was to assess the effect of wearing optical correction on the choroidal structure in eyes of children with anisohypermetropic amblyopia. This study was conducted at the Nara Medical University Hospital and at the Tokushima University Hospital. Twenty-nine anisohypermetropic amblyopic eyes and their fellow eyes of 29 amblyopic patients (mean age, 5.7 ± 1.7 years, range 3- to 8-years) and twenty eyes of 20 age-similar control children (4.9 ± 0.8 years, range 4- to 6-years) were studied. All patients wore optical correction and 15 patients had both optical correction and patching. The values at the baseline were compared to that at one year later. The binarization method was used to determine the total, luminal, and stromal areas of the choroid in the enhanced depth imaging optical coherence tomographic images. The best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) of the amblyopic eyes was significantly improved after the one-year period. A large luminal area was characteristic of the amblyopic eye at the baseline, and it was significantly reduced after the optical treatment. The stromal area widened significantly in the amblyopic and fellow eyes after one year whereas there were no significant changes in the choroid of the control eyes after one year. After one-year of optical correction, the luminal/stromal ratios in the amblyopic and fellow eyes were decreased and were then not significantly different from that of the normal control eyes. There was a significant and positive correlation between the improvement of the BCVA and the stromal area at the baseline (r = 0.64, P = 0.001). Wearing corrective lenses on the amblyopic eyes improves the BCVA, and the choroidal structure of the amblyopic eye becomes closer to that of the control eyes. The narrowed luminal area is a specific response of the amblyopic eye associated with the correction of the refractive error. The larger stromal area in the amblyopic eyes at the baseline is a predictive factor for improvements of the BCVA.

Active Vision Therapy for Anisometropic Amblyopia in Children: A Systematic Review

Purpose

The aim of the study was evaluation of the scientific evidence about the efficacy of vision therapy in children and teenagers with anisometropic amblyopia by performing a systematic literature review.

Methods

A search was performed using 3 searching strategies in 4 different databases (PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, and PruQuest). The quality of the included articles was evaluated using two tools for the risk of bias assessment, ROBINS-I for nonrandomized studies of intervention (NRSI), and ROB 2.0 for randomized clinical trials.

Results

The search showed 1274 references, but only 8 of them passed the inclusion criteria after the complete text review. The articles that were finally included comprised 2 randomized control trials and 6 nonrandomized studies of intervention. These articles provided evidence supporting the efficacy of vision therapy for the treatment of anisometropic amblyopia in children and teenagers. Assessment of the risk of bias showed an appropriate risk of bias for the randomized control trials, but a high risk of bias for nonrandomized studies of intervention (NRSI). A main source of risk of bias for NRSI was the domain related to the measurements of the outcomes, due to a lack of double-blind studies.

Conclusion

Vision therapy is a promising option for the treatment of anisometropic amblyopia in children and teenagers. However, the level of scientific evidence provided by the studies revised is still limited, and further randomized clinical trials are necessary to confirm the results provided to date and to optimize the vision therapy techniques by knowing the specific neural mechanisms involved.

Comparison of 2Win and plusoptiX A12R refractometers with Retinomax handheld autorefractor keratometer

PURPOSE

To test the accuracy and validity of the 2Win and the plusoptiX A12R refractometers in detecting amblyopia risk factors.

METHODS

Children were screened using both devices, using two sets of referral criteria each, and underwent complete ophthalmic examination, including cycloplegic refraction. Sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), and negative predictive value (NPV) were calculated. Median values for the pairs of refractometers were compared using the Wilcoxon signed-rank sum test for sphere, cylinder, and power vectors J0 and J45 for axis (both eyes).

RESULTS

A total of 284 eyes of 142 children (mean age, 37.9 ± 19.8 months) were included. Comparison of mean cycloplegic and manifest refractometer measurements provided statistically significant differences in both eyes. For sphere, the means were lower and for cylinder, higher for both devices, and both correlated well with the gold standard for astigmatic power vectors J0 and J45. Using referral criteria 1, the sensitivity, specificity, PPV and NPV, and inconclusive results were 67.4%, 83.7%, 87.9%, 59.4%, and 4.9%, respectively, for the 2Win, with sensitivity of 13% in the hyperopia group; 73.1%, 95.9%, 96.6%, 69.1%, and 10.6%, respectively, for the plusoptiX A12R, with a sensitivity of 33.3% in the hyperopia group. Using criteria 2, the values were 98.8%, 38.8%, 73.9%, and 95.0% (2Win) and 94.9%, 65.3%, 81.3%, and 88.9% (plusoptiX A12R).

CONCLUSIONS

In manifest conditions, the accuracy of the 2Win and plusoptiX A12R refractometers is low in hyperopia and astigmatism, but the devices are well correlated with each other, and both have high specificity; sensitivity is low in hyperopia, resulting in the underestimation of hyperopic refractive error. The optional Plusoptix sensitive referral criteria seems to be appropriate for the A12R. The 2Win provided fewer inconclusive results and was preferred for use with younger and developmentally delayed children.

The effect of asymmetrical accommodation on anisometropic amblyopia treatment outcomes

BACKGROUND

Previous research has revealed that the majority of children with anisometropic amblyopia have asymmetrical accommodation. The aim of this preliminary study was to determine whether the type of accommodation response was associated with a poor amblyopia treatment outcome in the same patients.

METHODS

The type of accommodation response of 26 children with anisometropic amblyopia was determined in a previous study. The final visual acuity in the amblyopic eye, after treatment, was compared between those with symmetrical, aniso-, and anti-accommodation.

RESULTS

The difference in final visual acuity between the three accommodation groups was significant (P = 0.023). Subjects with anisometropic amblyopia with anti-accommodation had the poorest final visual acuity (0.42 ± 0.25 logMAR) with a statistically significant difference compared with those who had aniso-accommodation (0.14 ± 0.08 logMAR; P = 0.023). However, the difference failed to reach significance compared to those with symmetrical accommodation (0.20 ± 0.12 logMAR; P = 0.234), probably due to the small sample size. The initial visual acuity in the amblyopic eye and the degree of anisometropia were also significantly positively correlated with final visual acuity (P < 0.001 for both).

CONCLUSIONS

In this study cohort, the presence of anti-accommodation in anisometropic amblyopia was associated with a poorer amblyopia treatment outcome. The initial visual acuity in the amblyopic eye and the degree of anisometropia were also associated with a poorer outcome. It is possible that all these factors are associated, but further research is required to determine causal relationships.

Calibration of the PlusOptix PowerRef 3 with change in viewing distance, adult age and refractive error

Purpose

The PowerRef 3 is frequently used in studying the near triad of accommodation, vergence and pupil responses in normal and clinical populations. Within a range, the defocus measurement of the PowerRef 3 is linearly related to the eye's defocus. While the default factory‐calibrated slope of this relation (calibration factor) is 1, it has been shown that the slope can vary across individuals. Here, we addressed the impact of changes in viewing distance, age and defocus of the eye on the calibration factor.

Methods

We manipulated viewing distance (40 cm, 1 m and 6 m) and recruited participants with a range of accommodative capabilities: participants in their 20s, 40s and over 60 years old. To test whether any effect was larger than the range of measurement reliability of the instrument, we collected data for each condition four times: two in the same session, another on the same day, and one on a different day.

Results

The results demonstrated that viewing distance did not affect the calibration factor over the linear range, regardless of age or uncorrected refractive error. The largest proportion of the variance was explained by between‐subject differences.

Conclusions

Calibration data for the PowerRef 3 were not sensitive to changes in viewing distance. Nevertheless, our results re‐emphasise the relevance of calibration for studies of individual participants.

Effect of amblyopia treatment on choroidal thickness in hypermetropic anisometropic amblyopia using swept-source optical coherence tomography

Background

Recent studies using optical coherence tomography (OCT) have indicated that choroidal thickness (CT) in the anisometropic amblyopic eye is thicker than that of the fellow and normal control eyes. However, it has not yet been established as to how amblyopia affects the choroid thickening. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the effect of amblyopia treatment on macular CT in eyes with anisometropic amblyopia using swept-source OCT.

Methods

Thirteen patients (mean age: 6.2 ± 2.4 years) with hypermetropic anisometropic amblyopia were included in this study. Visual acuity (VA), axial length (AL), and CT were measured at the enrollment visit and at the final visit, after at least 6 months of treatment. CT measurements were corrected for magnification error and were automatically analyzed using built-in software and divided into three macular regions (subfoveal choroidal thickness (SFCT), center 1 mm, and center 6 mm). A one-way analysis of covariance using AL as a covariate was performed to determine whether CT in amblyopic eyes changed after amblyopia treatment.

Results

The average observation period was 22.2 ± 11.0 months. After treatment, VA (logMAR) improvement in the amblyopic eyes was 0.41 ± 0.19 (p < 0.001). SFCT, center 1 mm CT, and center 6 mm CT were significantly thicker in the amblyopic eyes compared with the fellow eyes both before and after treatment (p < 0.05 for all comparisons). There were no significant changes in SFCT, center 1 mm CT, or center 6 mm CT before and after treatment in the amblyopic (p = 0.25, 0.21, and 0.84, respectively) and fellow (p = 0.75, 0.84, and 0.91, respectively) eyes. The correlation between changes in logMAR versus changes in CT after treatment was not significant.

Conclusions

Although VA in amblyopic eyes was significantly improved after treatment, the choroid thickening of anisometropic amblyopic eyes persisted, and there was no significant change found in the CT after the treatment. Our findings suggest that thickening of the CT in amblyopia is not directly related to visual dysfunction.

Amblyopia in High Accommodative Convergence/Accommodation Ratio Accommodative Esotropia. Influence of Bifocals on Treatment Outcome

PURPOSE

To study the influence of bifocal use on amblyopia treatment outcome in high accommodative convergence/accommodation (AC/A) ratio accommodative esotropia with deviation only at near.

DESIGN

Retrospective comparative case series.

METHODS

Setting: Tertiary referral center.

PATIENTS

Children with high AC/A ratio accommodative esotropia aged 3-8 years old, with deviation only at near with glasses, neutralized with bifocal lenses (follow-up 1 year).

INTERVENTION

Amblyopia was treated with patching. We compared bifocal and single-vision glasses users at 6 months and 1 year, with control of potential confounding variables (multiple regression).

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

LogMAR lines of improvement in visual acuity of the amblyopic eye, and improvement in stereoacuity.

RESULTS

Of 78 children, 61 were eligible. All patients wore single-vision glasses for 2 months (baseline visit), 46 of them changed to bifocals. Of 27 initially amblyopic children, 21 remained amblyopic at 2-month baseline (13 of them changed to bifocals). After adjustment for initial deviation, refraction, age, and amblyopia, improvement of visual acuity in the amblyopic eye was larger in the bifocal vs single-vision group at 6 months (mean 2.6 [95% confidence interval (CI): 1.9-2.9] logMAR lines vs mean 1.9 [95% CI: 0.5-2.2] logMAR lines, respectively, P = .01), but not at 1 year (mean 2.7 [95% CI: 2.2-3.1] logMAR lines vs mean 2.3 [95% CI: 1.6-3.1] logMAR lines, respectively, P = .3). Improvement of stereoacuity was not significantly different between the 2 groups.

CONCLUSIONS

Use of bifocals may provide a transient advantage, but improvement in visual acuity and stereopsis is equal with single-vision glasses over time.