A prospective, pilot study of treatment of amblyopia in children 10 to <18 years old.

Abstract

To determine whether amblyopia can be successfully treated in older children and adolescents. Prospective, single group treatment trial. Sixty-six amblyopic patients aged 10 to <18 years with amblyopic eye acuity of 20/40 to 20/160 were treated with daily patching (> or =2 hours a day) combined with at least 1 hour of near activities. Visual acuity was measured before and after 2 months of prescribed treatment. Visual acuity improved 2 or more lines from baseline in 18 (27%) of the 66 patients (95% confidence interval, 17%-40%), and the improvement appeared similar in 10- to <14-year-olds and 14- to <18-year-olds. Amblyopia treatment can improve visual acuity in older children and adolescents. A randomized controlled trial is needed to determine if there is an upper age limit for which amblyopia treatment is successful.