Observation of acupoint thread-embedding on refractive amblyopia in children / 中国针灸

OBJECTIVE@#To observe the effect of acupoint thread@*METHODS@#A total of 60 children with refractive amblyopia were randomized into an observation group (30 cases, 2 cases dropped off) and a control group (30 cases, 1 case dropped off). In the control group, comprehensive therapy of eye covering of intact side and family refined performance was adopted. On the basis of the treatment in the control group, acupoint thread@*RESULTS@#After treatment, the corrected vision was increased compared before treatment in the both groups (@*CONCLUSION@#Acupoint thread

Strabismic amblyopia: compliance with occlusion treatment in a tertiary hospital in Midwestern Brazil / Ambliopia estrabísmica: adesão ao tratamento oclusivo em hospital terciário no Centro-Oeste Brasileiro

Abstract Purpose: Study aimed to determine compliance of patients with strabismic amblyopia undergoing occlusion treatment, followed from January 1 st, 2011 to January 1 st, 2017 at an Ophthalmology Reference Center, and identify risk factors for poor compliance. Methods: Retrospective, consecutive cohort study. Compliance reported at each visit was related to visual acuity, family history, changes in occlusion schedules and in patients' care team during treatment. The patients were divided into two groups according to the compliance: poor compliance group and compliance group (subdivided in full compliance subgroup and partial compliance subgroup). Results: Age at treatment beginning vary from 3.7 to 13.7 years, esotropia was the most frequent deviation and the occlusion was realized from 5 to 7 hours a day. Of 220 patients, compliance was achieved by 193 (87.7%), 114 (51.8%) in full compliance subgroup and 79 (35.9%) in partial compliance subgroup, and 27 do not achieved compliance (12.3%). Poor compliance was significantly related to a history of epilepsy, higher rate of suspension of treatment due to inefficacy, higher evasion rate, lower recurrence, and lower rate of maintenance of prophylactic occlusion after treatment. Good compliance was related to family history of strabismus, higher recurrence rate, and higher maintenance of prophylactic occlusion after treatment. No relations were found between poor compliance and changes in occlusion schedules or in patients' care team during treatment. Conclusion: Compliance with occlusion treatment of strabismic ambliopia was similar to other studies that included refractive and strabismic amblyopia and not related to changes in occlusion schedules or in patients' care team during treatment. Family history of strabismus was a protective factor.

Resumo Objetivo: Determinar a adesão de pacientes com ambliopia estrabísmica submetidos a tratamento oclusivo, acompanhados em Centro de Referência em Oftalmologia do Centro-Oeste do Brasil, e identificar fatores de risco para baixa adesão. Métodos: Estudo de coorte retrospectivo e consecutivo. A adesão relatada em cada visita foi relacionada à acuidade visual, história familiar, mudanças no tempo de oclusão e na equipe de atendimento ao paciente durante o tratamento. Os pacientes foram divididos em dois grupos de acordo com a adesão: grupo de não-adesão e grupo adesão (subdividido em subgrupo adesão total e subgrupo adesão parcial). Resultados: A idade ao início do tratamento variou de 3,7 a 13,7 anos, o desvio mais frequente foi a esotropia, o tempo médio de oclusão foi de 5 a 7 horas por dia. Dos 220 pacientes, 193 (87,7%) obtiveram adesão, 114 (51,8%) no subgrupo de adesão total e 79 (35,9%) no subgrupo de adesão parcial, e 27 não aderiram (12,3%). A não-adesão foi relacionada à história de epilepsia, maior taxa de suspensão do tratamento devido à ineficácia, maior taxa de evasão, menor recorrência e menor taxa de manutenção da oclusão profilática pós tratamento. A boa adesão foi relacionada à história familiar de estrabismo, maior taxa de recorrência e maior manutenção da oclusão profilática pós tratamento. Não houve relação entre não-adesão e mudanças nos horários de oclusão ou na equipe de atendimento durante o tratamento. Conclusão: A adesão ao tratamento oclusivo da ambliopia estrabísmica foi semelhante aos estudos que incluíram ambliopia refracional e estrabísmica e não se correlacionou a mudanças no tempo de oclusão ou na equipe de atendimento. A história familiar de estrabismo foi um fator de proteção.

Treatment of refractory amblyopia with levodopa associated with full-time occlusion in the dominant eye / Tratamento da ambliopia refratária com o uso de levodopa associada à oclusão total do olho dominante

Abstract Purpose: To evaluate visual outcomes of levodopa treatment associated with full occlusion of the dominant eye in patients with refractory amblyopia. Methods: A prospective study of 19 attended patients who were subject to treatment with Levodopa and Carbidopa on doses of 0.7mg/kg/day, a ratio of 4:1 divided into three daily doses for 5 weeks, combined with full occlusion (24 hours/day) of the dominant eye. The ophthalmologic exam from previous consultations up to treatment and after 8 weeks of therapy were collected from medical record data. Patients who had completed treatment for more than 12 months were included for complete eye examination. Results: The mean age before treatment with levodopa was 11.0 ± 4.2 years old (varying from 7 to 23 years). The best-corrected visual acuity (Snellen chart) of the amblyopic eye before treatment was 0.24 (0.6 in logMAR) ± 0.16, after 8 weeks of treatment it was 0.47(0.3 in logMAR) ± 0.33, while during the final evaluation it was 0.46 (0.3 in logMAR) ± 0.34. There was a statistically significant improvement in vision after 8 weeks of therapy which was maintained until the final evaluation (p = 0.007). Conclusion: Levodopa/Carbidopa therapyat doses of 0.7 mg/kg/day at a ratio of 4:1 divided in three daily doses, associated with full occlusion of the dominant eye during 5 weeks had a significant improvement on the visual acuity of the amblyopic eye, and persisted up to 1 year after the treatment.

Resumo Objetivo: Avaliar os resultados visuais do tratamento com levodopa associada à oclusão total do olho dominante em pacientes amblíopes. Métodos: Estudo prospectivo de 19 pacientes atendidos e submetidos ao tratamento com levodopa e carbidopa na dose de 0,7 mg/kg/dia e proporção de 4:1, divididos em três doses diárias, durante cinco semanas, combinada a oclusão total (24 horas/dia) do olho dominante. Foram coletados dados do prontuário referentes ao exame oftalmológico da consulta anterior ao tratamento e após 8 semanas de terapia. Os pacientes com término do tratamento com mais de 12 meses foram reconvocados para exame oftalmológico completo. Resultados: A média de idade dos pacientes previamente ao tratamento com levodopa foi de 11,0 ± 4,2 anos (variando de 7 a 23 anos). A acuidade visual melhor corrigida (Snellen) do olho amblíope antes do tratamento foi de 0,24 (0,6 em logMAR) ± 0,16, após 8 semanas de tratamento foi de 0,47 (0,3 em logMAR) ± 0,33 e na avaliação final foi de 0,46 (0,3 em logMAR) ± 0,34. Houve melhora estatisticamente significante da visão após 8 semanas de tratamento que se manteve até a avaliação final (p = 0,007) Conclusão: A terapia com levodopa/carbidopa em doses de 0,7mg/kg/dia na proporção de 4:1 dividida em três doses diárias, associada à oclusão total do olho dominante durante 5 semanas, apresentou uma melhora significativa na acuidade visual do olho ambliópico e persistiu até 1 ano após o tratamento.

Estereopsis en pacientes con ambliopía en ausencia de estrabismo / Stereopsis in patients with ambliopia in absence of strabismus

Introducción: los pacientes con estrabismo comúnmente tiene algún grado de compromiso en la estereopsis, y existe evidencia clara que el tratamiento de la ambliopía severa mejora este compromiso; sin embargo, no hay datos que reporten grados de estereopsis en pacientes con ambliopía en ausencia de estrabismo. Objetivo: determinar y comparar el grado de estereopsis en pacientes sin ambliopía, con ambliopía leve y moderada en ausencia de estrabismo, que asistieron a consulta de oft almología pediátrica en el Hospital de San José entre Enero de 2015 y Agosto de 2017. Diseño del estudio: estudio de tipo transversal. Método: pacientes entre 5 y 15 años. Se utilizó el Random Dot Test para la evaluación de estereopsis. Se comparó el grado de estereopsis entre los distintos niveles de ambliopía por medio de una prueba de Kruskal Wallis. Resultados: se incluyeron 119 niños, 64 no tuvieron ambliopía y 55 tuvieron ambliopía, de los cuales el 67.3% fue leve (n=37) y el 32.7% fue moderada (n=18). La principal causa fue la refractiva; en el grupo de ambliopía leve 64.9% y moderada 77.8%. Los pacientes entre 5 y 10 años presentaron una mediana de estereopsis de 40 segundos de arco independientemente de si tenían o no ambliopía, a diferencia de los pacientes mayores de 10 años en quienes a medida que aumentó el grado de ambliopía, disminuyó la estereopsis. Conclusión: de observó una tendencia al empeoramiento del grado de estereopsis según el grado de ambliopía aunque no se alcanzó significancia estadística. El diagnóstico precoz y tratamiento oportuno de la ambliopía durante los primeros años son fundamentales para garantizar un desarrollo visual adecuado de la población pediátrica.

Background: patients with strabismus usually have some degree of disturbance in stereopsis, and there is clear evidence that the treatment of severe amblyopia improves it. However, there are no data reporting grades of stereopsis in patients with amblyopia in absence of strabismus. Objective: to determine and compare the degree of stereopsis in patients without amblyopia, with mild and moderate amblyopia in absence of strabismus who the attended pediatric ophthalmology clinic at Hospital de San José between January 2015 and August of 2017. Study design: cross sectional study. Method: study design: cross-sectional study. Participants: Patients between 5 and 15 years. Process: The Random Dot Test was used for stereopsis evaluation. The degree of stereopsis between the different levels of amblyopia was compared by means of a Kruskal Wallis test. Results: 119 children were included, 64 did not have amblyopia and 55 had amblyopia. 67.3% were mild (n = 37) and 32.7% were moderate (n = 18). The principal cause was refractive, mild amblyopia 64.9% and moderate 77.8%. Patients between 5 and 10 years had a median stereopsis of 40 seconds of arc regardless of whether they had amblyopia or not, unlike patients older than 10 years in whom as the degree of amblyopia increased, stereopsis decreased. Conclusion: It was observed a tendency to worsen the degree of stereopsis according to the degree of amblyopia although statistical signifi cance was not reached. Th e early diagnosis and timely treatment of amblyopia during the fi rst years are fundamental to guarantee an adequate visual development of the pediatric population.

PlayStation PortableTM como tratamiento de la ambliopía en los niños / PlayStation PortableTM as treatment for children with amblyopia

Objetivo: Determinar la efectividad de la terapia visual con el uso del PlayStation PortableTM en la ambliopía. Método: Se incluyeron 40 pacientes de 5-10 años de edad con ambliopía estrábica, anisometrópica o ambas, aleatorizados en 4 grupos según el tipo de terapia a utilizar (10 pacientes por grupo): grupo 1, PlayStation PortableTM y lentes rojo-verde; grupo 2, PlayStation PortableTM y lentes con vidrio esmerilado en el ojo fijador (no ambliope); grupo 3, PlayStation PortableTM y parche oclusivo en el ojo fijador; grupo 4, parche oclusivo en el ojo fijador sin el PlayStation PortableTM. Todos los pacientes utilizaron su refracción. Las actividades de los grupos 1 al 3 incluyeron jugar videojuegos y ver películas 1-2 horas al día; el grupo 4 podía realizar cualquier actividad. Se valoró la agudeza visual mejor corregida semanalmente, hasta completar 3 meses de tratamiento. En el postratamiento se valoró la agudeza visual mejor corregida mensualmente durante 3 meses. Resultados: En total se estudiaron 40 pacientes, de los cuales el 60 por ciento fueron del sexo femenino, con un promedio de edad de 8,2 años, rango de 5-10 años. El tipo más frecuente de ambliopía fue la estrábica (55 por ciento), seguido de la anisometrópica (37,5 por ciento) y ambas (7,5 por ciento). En cuanto al ojo afectado, en el 62,5 por ciento fue el ojo izquierdo y en el 37,5 por ciento el ojo derecho. Conclusiones: En este estudio el grupo con mejores resultados fue el de filtro rojo-verde. Al suspender la terapia se observó un deterioro visual en los cuatro grupos, sin regresar a la basal. Se demuestra que el PlayStation PortableTM funciona como terapia en la ambliopía con una mejoría en la agudeza visual mejor corregida(AU)

Objective: Determine the effectiveness of visual therapy with PlayStation PortableTM for amblyopia. Methods: The study sample was composed of 40 patients aged 5-10 years with strabismic amblyopia, anisometropic amblyopia or both, randomized to 4 groups according to the therapy to be used (10 patients per group): Group 1: PlayStation PortableTM and red-green lenses; Group 2: PlayStation PortableTM and frosted glass lenses on the fixating (non-amblyopic) eye; Group 3: PlayStation PortableTM and occlusive patch on the fixating eye; Group 4: occlusive patch on the fixating eye without PlayStation PortableTM. All the patients used their refraction. The activities performed by Groups 1-3 included playing video games and watching movies 1-2 hours per day; Group 4 could perform any activity. Best corrected visual acuity was measured weekly until completing 3 months of treatment. In the post-treatment period best corrected visual acuity was measured monthly for 3 months. Results: A total 40 patients were studied, of whom 60 percent were female, with a mean age of 8.2 years, range of 5-10 years. Strabismic amblyopia was the most common type (55 percent), followed by anisometropic amblyopia (37,5 percent) and both (7.5 percent). The affected eye was the left eye in 62.5 percent and the right eye in 37.5 percent. Conclusions: It was found that PlayStation PortableTM is effective as therapy for amblyopia, improving best corrected visual acuity. The group with the best results was the red-green filter group. Upon suspension of the therapy, visual deterioration was observed in the 4 groups, without returning to baseline values(AU)

Tratamiento binocular de la ambliopía basado en la realidad virtual / Binocular treatment of amblyopia based on virtual reality

Aunque los tratamientos predominantes de la ambliopía son monoculares, estos tienen poca aceptación y baja efectividad en el restablecimiento de la combinación binocular. Numerosas evidencias apoyan la idea de que la ambliopía es en esencia un problema binocular y que la supresión juega un papel clave. En esta revisión se exponen dos estrategias para el tratamiento binocular de la ambliopía basado en la realidad virtual; la primera con el objetivo primario de mejorar la agudeza visual y la segunda con el propósito de mejorar las funciones binoculares a través de la reducción de la supresión. Este enfoque binocular expone al paciente a condiciones artificiales de visión con estímulos dicópticos en imágenes relacionadas. Los estudios clínicos realizados, tanto en niños como adultos, reportan mejorías de la agudeza visual y la estereopsia en un tiempo muy inferior al requerido por la oclusión. Los resultados clínicos sugieren que un enfoque binocular que combine ambas estrategias puede utilizarse como complemento de los tratamientos clásicos y como alternativa en adultos y niños con historial de tratamientos fracasados o rechazados(AU)

Although predominant amblyopia treatments are monocular, they have poor compliance and low effectiveness in re-establishing binocular combination. There are many evidences supporting the idea that amblyopia is essentially a binocular problem and its suppression plays a key role. This review showed two binocular treatment strategies of amblyopia based in Virtual Reality. In the first one, the primary goal is to improve visual acuity whereas in the second one the purpose is to improve the binocular functions through reduction of suppression. In this binocular approach, the patient is exposed to artificial vision conditions with dichoptic stimuli in related images. Clinical studies in children and adults have reported improvements of visual acuity and stereopsis in less time than that required by occlusion. Clinical outcomes suggest that a binocular approach with a combination of both strategies can be used as a supplement to classic treatment and as an alternative in adults and children with history of failed or rejected treatments(AU)

Amblyopia: neural basis and therapeutic approaches / Ambliopia: bases neurais e intervenções terapêuticas

ABSTRACT Abnormalities in visual processing caused by visual deprivation or abnormal binocular interaction may induce amblyopia, which is characterized by reduced visual acuity. Occlusion therapy, the conventional treatment, requires special attention as occlusion of the fellow normal eye may reduce its visual acuity and impair binocular vision. Besides recovering visual acuity, some researchers have recommended restoration of stereoacuity and motor fusion and reverse suppression in order to prevent diplopia. Recent studies have documented that the amblyopic visual cortex has a normal complement of cells but reduced spatial resolution and a disordered topographical map. Changes occurring in the late sensitive period selectively impact the parvocellular pathway. Distinct morphophysiologic and psychophysical deficits may demand individualization of therapy, which might provide greater and longer-lasting residual plasticity in some children.

RESUMO Anormalidades nos processamentos visuais causadas por privação visual ou interação binocular anormal podem gerar ambliopia, caracterizada por redução da acuidade visual. A terapia de oclusão (tratamento convencional) necessita de cuidados especiais, pois a oclusão do olho normal (não-amblíope) pode reduzir a acuidade visual do mesmo e prejudicar a visão binocular. Além de recuperar a acuidade visual, alguns pesquisadores alertam para a necessidade em potencial de se restaurar a estereoacuidade e a fusão motora, bem como reverter a supressão a fim de impedir diplopia. Estudos recentes revelam que nos córtices visuais de amblíopes há uma quantidade normal de células, mas com resolução espacial reduzida e mapa topográfico desorganizado. Alterações ocorridas durante o período crítico tardio do desenvolvimento visual humano impactam seletivamente a via parvocelular. Déficits morfofisiológicos e psicofísicos distintos podem exigir programas de tratamento potencialmente seletivos e poderiam explicar a plasticidade residual maior e mais duradoura em algumas crianças.

Higher order aberrations in amblyopic children and their role in refractory amblyopia / Aberrações de alta ordem em crianças com ambliopia e seu papel na ambliopia refratária

Objective: Some studies have hypothesized that an unfavourable higher order aberrometric profile could act as an amblyogenic mechanism and may be responsible for some amblyopic cases that are refractory to conventional treatment or cases of “idiopathic” amblyopia. This study compared the aberrometric profile in amblyopic children to that of children with normal visual development and compared the aberrometric profile in corrected amblyopic eyes and refractory amblyopic eyes with that of healthy eyes. Methods: Cross-sectional study with three groups of children – the CA group (22 eyes of 11 children with unilateral corrected amblyopia), the RA group (24 eyes of 13 children with unilateral refractory amblyopia) and the C group (28 eyes of 14 children with normal visual development). Higher order aberrations were evaluated using an OPD-Scan III (NIDEK). Comparisons of the aberrometric profile were made between these groups as well as between the amblyopic and healthy eyes within the CA and RA groups. Results: Higher order aberrations with greater impact in visual quality were not significantly higher in the CA and RA groups when compared with the C group. Moreover, there were no statistically significant differences in the higher order aberrometric profile between the amblyopic and healthy eyes within the CA and RA groups. Conclusions: Contrary to lower order aberrations (e.g., myopia, hyperopia, primary astigmatism), higher order aberrations do not seem to be involved in the etiopathogenesis of amblyopia. Therefore, these are likely not the cause of most cases of refractory amblyopia. .

Objetivo: Alguns estudos levantaram a hipótese de que um perfil aberrométrico de alta ordem desfavorável poderia ser um fator ambliogênico, responsável por certos casos de ambliopia “idiopática” ou refratária ao tratamento convencional. Este trabalho tem como objetivos: 1) comparar o perfil aberrométrico de crianças amblíopes com o de crianças com desenvolvimento visual normal; 2) comparar a aberrometria de olhos amblíopes tratados com sucesso/curados e olhos amblíopes refratários ao tratamento convencional com a aberrometria de olhos saudáveis. Métodos: Estudo transversal com três grupos de crianças: grupo CA (22 olhos de 11 crianças com ambliopia unilateral curada), grupo RA (24 olhos de 13 crianças com ambliopia unilateral refratária) e grupo C (28 olhos de 14 crianças com desenvolvimento visual normal). Avaliou-se a aberrometria ocular total utilizando o OPD Scan-III (NIDEK). Comparou-se o perfil aberrométrico dos três grupos de estudo bem como dentro dos grupos CA e RA, o olho amblíope com o saudável. Resultados: As aberrações de alta ordem com maior impacto na qualidade visual não foram significativamente superiores nos grupos CA e RA, comparativamente ao grupo C. Por outro lado, não se encontraram diferenças estatisticamente significativas entre o perfil aberrométrico de alta ordem dos olhos amblíopes e dos olhos sãos dentro dos grupos CA e RA. Conclusão: Contrariamente às aberrações de baixa ordem (miopia, hipermetropia, astigmatismo primário), as de alta ordem não parecem relacionar-se com a etiopatogênese da ambliopia. É também pouco provável que estas sejam a causa da maioria dos casos de ambliopia refratária. .

Análisis colorimétrico computarizado del color de la piel palpebral: un potencial método No Invasivo para monitorizar el cumplimiento de la terapia con parche en ambliopía / Computerized colorimetric analysis of skin palpebral color. A potential non invasive method for monitoring patch Compliance in the Treatment of amblyopia

Objetivo: evaluar el análisis colorimétrico computarizado del color de la piel del párpado antes y después de realizar oclusión, con el fin de determinar qué cambios en el color de la piel permiten conocer el cumplimiento de la terapia oclusiva en el tratamiento de la ambliopía. Métodos: se analizó el cambio de coloración de la piel tomando fotografías estandarizadas, antes y después de 48 horas de aplicación del parche. Los análisis se hicieron con el programa PS CS2 de Adobe Systems que proporciona discriminación de los colores primarios en una imagen determinada y permite analizar y comparar numéricamente las intensidades. Resultados: el promedio basal de intensidades fue de 52.50 con un rango entre 42.11 y 72.87. La desviación estándar fue de 37.34. El promedio después de 48 horas oclusión fue de 102.33 con un rango de entre 96.32 y 109.28 y una desviación estándar de 62.49. (P≤0.05). Al comparar el cambio de la piel ocluida en los párpados con la piel de la mejilla, expuesta a la luz pero no ocluida, se demostraron cambios igualmente significativos. Conclusiones: el análisis colorimétrico computarizado no invasivo de los cambios en la coloración de la piel de los pacientes en tratamiento con ambliopía puede convertirse en un método estándar para monitorizar el cumplimiento de la terapia con oclusión. Los resultados del presente trabajo son claros en evidenciar que tan rápidamente se inducen cambios colorimétricos en la piel, incluso antes de que éstos sean detectables a simple vista. Saber qué tan disciplinado ha sido el tratamiento da la posibilidad de conocer exactamente en qué situación está el paciente y estimulará a padres y pacientes para cumplir la terapia.

Objective: to evaluate the colorimetric computerized analysis of palpebral skin color before and after occluding the eye, in order to determine what changes in skin color allow to understand the compliance with patching treatment while treating amblyopia. Methods: skin color change was analyzed taking standardized pictures before and after 48 hours occlusion. Analysis was done with the program PS CS2 from Adobe Systems that gives color discrimination from an image and allows numerical comparison between intensities. Results: palpebral skin mean basal intensity was 52.50 (between 42-11 and 72-87). SD was 37.34. Average after 48 hours occlusion was 102.33 (96.32 to 109.28) and SD of 62.49 (P≤0.05). When comparing occluded skin color with cheek color, exposed to light but not occluded, there were also significant changes. Conclusions: Noninvasive colorimetric computerized analysis from changes in skin color in amblyopic patients treated with patching, could become a standard method for monitoring compliance with occlusion therapy. Results of this experiment are clear and evidence that changes in skin color occur quickly after starting the patch, even before they are visible to the bare eye. Knowing how disciplined has been the patient with his treatment gives the opportunity of knowing the exact situation of the patient and will stimulate parents and patients to improve patch compliance.

Prevención y tratamiento de los problemas visuales en el niño / Prevention and treatment of visual problems in children

La ceguera infantil es menos frecuente que la adulta, pero el costo emocional y económico es comparativamente mayor en niños. Existen 1,4 millones de niños ciegos en el mundo, de causas diferentes, especialmente si se comparan países de ingresos económicos altos, medios y bajos. Detectar cada realidad permite hacer estrategias preventivas adecuadas. La ambliopía asociada a las patologías oftalmológicas y su período crítico de tratamiento hacen que su detección deba ser precoz. Se han establecido sugerencias de screening tanto en pacientes de riesgo como los prematuros, así como para la población general infantil

Children blindness is less frequent than in adults but the emotional and economic cost is comparatively high in children. There are 1,4 million blind children in the world from different causes specially if high, middle and low income countries are compared. Detecting each reality allows adequate prevention strategies. Amblyopic associated to ocular diseases and its critical treatment period need their detection to be early. Screening suggestions has been established for high risk patients as premature and for the general children population

Laser in situ keratomileusis for treated myopic anisometropic amblyopia in children

To evaluate the effects of laser in situ keratomileusis [LASIK] in decreasing myopic anisometropia in children with spectacles or contact lens intolerance and its validity in facilitating treatment of resultant myopic anisometropic amblyopia. LASIK was performed in 18 eyes of 18 children having myopic anisometropic amblyopia not successfully treated with the standard amblyopia treatment for 6 months. Children were followed up at 1 week, 1, 2, 6, 12, 18 and 24 months. Postoperative amblyopia therapy was continued with occlusion of the dominant eye for 6 h daily for the first 3 months and then for 4 h per day as long as possible. The mean spherical equivalent refraction in the operated eye had reduced significantly from -9.08 +/- 1.86D preoperatively to -0.97 +/- 1.16D at 2 years postoperatively. The mean spherical equivalent in the non-operated fellow eye was -1.0 +/- 1.15D preoperatively and -2.50 +/- 1.15D at 2 years. The mean spherical equivalent myopic anisometropia was -7.75 +/- 2.25D preoperatively and -0.50 +/- 0.3ID at 2 years, representing a 93.5% reduction in myopic anisometropia. The mean regression value was -2.28 +/- 1.62D, however, 18 eyes [72%] were within 3.OD of the fellow eye. The mean BCVA was significantly improved from 0.72 +/- 0.13 preoperatively to 0.47 +/- 0.17 by 2 years after LASIK with amblyopia treatment. LASIK is a safe and effective alternative method for correcting myopic anisometropic amblyopia, especially in children with spectacles or contact lens intolerance, with more better visual acuity and binocular vision

Evaluation of central, steady, maintained fixation grading for predicting inter-eye visual acuity difference to diagnose and treat amblyopia in strabismic patients.

Background: Diagnosis of amblyopia in preverbal strabismic patients is frequently made by binocular fixation preference (BFP) testing. The reports on reliability of BFP are equivocal. This study evaluated the reliability of BFP testing in patients with horizontal strabismus. Materials and Methods: This prospective observational study included patients with manifest, horizontal, comitant deviation >10 prism diopter (PD). Inter-eye acuity difference (IEAD) was calculated by converting Snellen visual acuity to logMAR and was compared with BFP testing. The fixation behavior of the non-preferred eye was evaluated by a single investigator as central or uncentral, steady or unsteady and maintained or unmaintained. Amblyopia was defined as the IEAD of >0.2 logMAR. Results: Of total 61 patients 36 were females and 36 had convergent squint, mean age 9.8 years. The correlation of BFP testing with IEAD was good for esotropia and exotropia. The sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive value of central, steady, maintained (CSM) grading was 93%, 78%, 79%, and 93% respectively. Sensitivity and negative predictive values were higher in children aged four to nine years and anisometropia >1 diopter. The correlation between IEAD and lower grades of BFP testing was poor. Conclusions: CSM grading for BFP testing is useful for the detection of strabismic amblyopia but not useful to differentiate the depth of the amblyopia.

Facilitation of amblyopia management by laser in situ keratomileusis in children with myopic anisometropia

To evaluate of the effects of Laser in situ keratomileusis in lowering anisomyopia in children and its validity in facilitating the treatment of the resultant anisometropic amblyopia. Laser in situ keratomileusis [LASIK] was performed to 18 eyes of 18 children having myopic anisometropia amblyopia not successfully treated with the standard amblyopia treatment for 6 months. Children were followed up at 1 week, 1, 2, 6, 12, 18 and 24 months. Postoperative amblyopia therapy was continued with occlusion of the dominant eye for 6 hours daily for the first 3 months and then for 4 hours per the synoptophore [combined with occlusion] was done to improve the binocular function. The mean spherical equivalent refraction in the operated eye had reduced significantly from-9.25 +/- 3.43 D preoperatively to 1.5 +/- 1.23 D 2 years postoperatively. The mean spherical equivalent in the non operated feNow eye was-1.0 +/- 1.18 D preoperatively and-2.25 +/- 1.05 D by 2 years. The mean spherical equivalent anisometropia was-7.75 +/- 2.34 D preoperatively and-0.5 +/- 0.31 D at 2 years, representing a 93.5% reduction in anisometropia. At 6 months, 14 eyes [77.8%] were within +/- 1.0 of the targeted refraction and at 2 years, 10 eyes [55.6%] were within +/- 1.0 D. The mean regression value was-2.25 +/- 1.7 D, however, 15 eyes [83.3%] were within 3.0 D of the fellow eye. The mean BCVA was significantly improved from 0.26 +/- 0.21 preoperatively to 0.82 +/- 0.17 by 2 years after surgery with amblyopia treatment. Binocular vision status had improved after 2 years follow up with part-time reduced occlusion treatment. No significant surgical or general anesthesia complications were noted. LASIK is a safe and effective alternative method for correcting myopic anisometropia facilitating treatment of amblyopia, not responding to conventional methods of treatment, with more better visual acuity and binocular vision. An important factor in treatment success is the compliance with the long-term amblyopia treatment regimen. It should be considered as a first-line treatment option, surpassing glasses and con tact lenses in eliminating anisometropia and aniseikonia

Disfuncionalidad neuronal y psicomotora como resultado del retraso del tratamiento de la ambliopía / Neuronal and psychomotor malfunction secondary to delayed amblyopia treatment

BACKGROUND: A review of neuronal and psychomotor alterations related to delay of amblyopia treatment was carried out. METHODS: We reviewed various studies to explain the anomalies of visual cortex because of the prevalence of anomalous stimulus in patients with amblyopia. RESULTS: Visual pathways are developed embryologically. The newborn has ocular dominance columns ready to be stimulated, but visual alterations present at this time will generate neuronal changes in visual cortex. CONCLUSIONS: Delay of amblyopia treatment with anomalous visual stimulus will provoke organic changes in visual cortex, inducing alterations of brain functions depending on binocularity. Memory and learning have also been related to this condition.

Causas de ambliopia e resultados do tratamento / Amblyopia: causes and treatment autcome

Objetivo: conhecer as causas de ambliopia em nosso meio, assim como a resposta obtida com o tratamento oclusivo empregado. Métodos: estudo retrospectivo, avaliando crianças amblíopes, com idade inferior a 12 anos, quanto ao sexo, causa da ambliopia,acuidade visual inicial e final, idade de início e o tempo necessário de tratamento oclusivo. Os resultados estão apresentados segundo a freqüência de ocorrência. Resultados:158 crianças compuseram a amostra, das quais 70,2% apresentavam esotropia, 13,2% exotropia, 0,7% hipertropia, 4,4% desvio horizontal associado à vertical e 11,4% eram ortofóricas; 6,6% apresentavam anisometropia, 0,7% catarata congênita e 6,6% outros diagnósticos. A acuidade visual de 85,5% das crianças melhorou, o que ocorreu mais rapidamente nas ortofóricas. O tempo de oclusão foi longo para todos os tipos de ambliopia. Conclusão: a causa mais freqüente de ambliopia foi a estrábica (esotropia)e o tratamento oclusivo foi efetivo para a maioria das crianças tratadas.

Objective: to evaluate the causes and the results of occlusion amblyopia treatment. Methods: a retrospectivestudy was done including children under 12 years old. Sex, age of starting treatment, etiology, ocular deviationaffection, visual acuity and time for the occlusion treatment were evaluated. Results: 158 children had all therequirements to compose the sample. 50.6% were males. 70.2% had esotropia, 13.2% exotropia, 0.7% hypertropia and 4.4% presented horizontal and vertical strabismus.11.4% had no ocular deviation. 6.6% presented anisometropia, 0.7% congenital cataract and 6.6% otherdiagnoses. Visual acuity improved in 85.5%, faster in the ortophoric children. The occlusion treatment time was longin all the deviation types. Conclusion: the treatment was beneficial in improving amblyopia in the majority of the children evaluated.

Ambliopia por estrabismo: estudo retrospectivo de pacientes em hospital universitário / Strabismic amblyopia: a retrospective study on patients from a university hospital

OBJETIVO: Avaliar a influência da adesão ao tratamento, da gravidade da ambliopia e da idade de início do tratamento em pacientes com ambliopia por estrabismo submetidos à terapia oclusiva. MÉTODOS: Analisaram-se 569 prontuários de pacientes com ambliopia por estrabismo atendidos no Hospital das Clínicas da Faculdade de Medicina da USP no período de 1983 a 2000. Os critérios de exclusão foram: perda de seguimento, idade maior que 12 anos, presença de nistagmo e outras doenças oculares. Todos foram submetidos a exame oftalmológico completo com avaliação da motilidade ocular, divididos por faixas etárias e classificados quanto ao tipo de estrabismo, gravidade da ambliopia e adesão ao tratamento. Os dados foram analisados estatisticamente pelo método de Fisher. RESULTADOS: Foram incluídos 198 pacientes (34,8 por cento). Não houve diferença de adesão nos diversos grupos etários. A taxa de sucesso foi maior nos pacientes com boa adesão independente da gravidade da ambliopia. Porém a adesão ao tratamento foi menor no grupo com ambliopia grave, que foi o mais freqüente e obteve menor taxa de sucesso em nossa amostra. Não houve relação entre idade e sucesso terapêutico. CONCLUSÕES: O estudo demonstrou que a adesão ao tratamento oclusivo desempenha papel fundamental na eficácia terapêutica. Com isto, idade de início do tratamento isoladamente não teve influência no sucesso terapêutico, uma vez que foi possível obter boa adesão a despeito da idade. Além disto, os resultados foram piores nos casos de ambliopia grave, nos quais a adesão foi menor.

Diferentes estrategias de tratamiento del astigmatismo mixto mediante ablación bitórica con queratomiulesis in situ asistida con láser (lasik) / Different strategies of treatment of the mixed astigmatism by means of ablation bitórica with queratomiulesis in situ attended with laser (lasik)

Evaluar la seguridad, eficacia y predictibilidad del tratamiento bitórico en la corrección del astigmatismo mixto. Determinar la mejor estrategia para estimar la corrección deseada (refracción subjetiva y/o ciclopléjica). Estudio prospectivo, experimental, longitudinal y comparativo. Se asignaron aleatoriamente a cada uno de los siguientes grupos: A: Refracción ciclopléjica tanto para la esfera como para el cilindro. B: Promedio entre la refracción subjetiva y ciclopléjica para la esfera y la refracción subjetiva para el cilindro. C: Refracción subjetiva tanto para la esfera como para el cilindro. Las cirugías fueron realizadas con el sistema de láser excimer VISX S2 (VISX Inc. Sacred Clara, C.A). Se examinaron al primer y tercer mes del postoperatorio. Treinta y siete pacientes (71 ojos) con edad promedio de 32 años, (rango 19-61). La AV sin corrección, (MAVCA) y la refracción preoperatoria no mostraron diferencia estadísticamente significativa entre los grupos. La AV postoperatoria sin corrección fue de 20/30 ó mejor en un 75, 50 y 53.3 por ciento en los grupos A, B y C, respectivamente. No hubo pérdida de líneas de visión de la MAVCA. El promedio de la rehabilitación refractiva esférica fue de –1.60 D (grupo A), -1.52 D (grupo B) y –0.65 D (grupo C) y el promedio de la rehabilitación refractiva cilíndrica fue de 1.44 D (grupo A), 1.43 D (grupo B) y 2.06 D (grupo C). El tratamiento muestra una tendencia a una mejor AV en el primer y tercer mes del postoperatorio en los casos tratados bajo cicloplejia (Grupo A), siendo esta estrategia de tratamiento la más efectiva para la ablación bitórica del astigmatismo mixto.