ABSTRACT
AIM: To evaluate the visual outcome of LASIK and occlusion therapy for anisometropic amblyopia in adolescents and compare it to the visual outcome of optical correction and occlusion therapy.METHODS: This retrospective case-controlled study included 19 children,aged between 10 and 17 years,with anisometropic amblyopia. Group A included 10 adolescents with anisometropic amblyopia in whom vision did not improve with optical correction and occlusion therapy. These patients were then treated with LASIK and occlusion therapy. Postoperative visual outcomes of this group were analyzed and compared to group B which included 9 age-matched controls who were compliant to treatment of anisometropic amblyopia by optical correction and occlusion therapy.RESULTS: In group A,the mean (SD) spherical refraction was -8.9±5.2D preoperatively and -1.9±2.0D postoperatively,the mean (SD) preoperative best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) was 0.25±0.18,which improved to 0.50±0.26 after treatment. In group B,the mean (SD) pre-treatment BCVA was 0.27±0.18 and improved to 0.50±0.28 after treatment. There was no statistically significant difference between the two groups in terms of post-treatment BCVA.CONCLUSION: LASIK offers a feasible solution for adolescents with anisometropic amblyopia who are not improving in vision with conventional treatment optical correction and occlusion therapy. The outcome in this group was comparable to the outcome in adolescents in whom vision improved with conventional treatment.