Non-pathologic components are associated with reduced visual acuity in myopes after spectacle correction

Purpose: To find the association between reduced best?corrected visual acuity and non?pathologic components after optical correction in individuals with low to high myopia. Methods: Myopic children under 16 years of age were reviewed using electronic medical records and the following data were extracted and recorded: participant’s age, gender, uncorrected visual acuity (UCVA), manifest refraction, and best corrected visual acuity (BCVA). Spherical equivalent and cylinder were classified into low, moderate, and high categories based on the magnitude range. Similarly, astigmatism was defined into with?the?rule, against?the?rule, and oblique based on the location of the steepest meridian. Reduced BCVA was defined when the decimal visual acuity was less than 0.66 (equivalent to Snellen’s acuity of 6/9 or 20/30). Logistic regression was performed to test the factors associated with reduced visual acuity after optical correction in the absence of myopic pathologic changes. Statistical significance was considered if P < 0.05. Results: Overall 44.9% (N = 242/538) of myopes had reduced best?corrected visual acuity (BCVA) and none of the patients had pathologic myopic lesions. Using logistic regression, we found that high spherical refraction (OR 27.98, 95% CI 14.43–54.25, P < 0.001) and moderate spherical refraction (OR 5.52, 95% CI 2.56–11.91, P < 0.001) were significantly associated with reduced best corrected visual acuity despite any pathological lesions. Additionally, oblique and ATR astigmatism were associated with reduced visual acuity in myopic children with (OR 2.05, 95% CI 0.77–5.42) and (OR 1.59, 95% CI 0.82–3.08). Conclusion: Higher magnitude of refractive error components causes reduced visual acuity in the absence of pathologic changes.

Simplified updates on the pathophysiology and recent developments in the treatment of amblyopia: A review

Amblyopia is the most common cause of monocular visual impairment affecting 2-5% of the general population. Amblyopia is a developmental cortical disorder of the visual pathway essentially due to abnormal visual stimulus, reaching the binocular cortical cells, which may be multivariate. Ganglion cells are of two types: parvocellular (P cells) and magnocellular (M cells); they are the first step where the light energy is converted in to neural impulse. P cells are involved in fine visual acuity, fine stereopsis, and color vision and M cells are involved in gross stereopsis and movement recognition. Strabismus, refractive error, cataract, and ptosis, occurring during critical period are highly amblyogenic. The critical period extends from birth to 7--8 years. The earlier the clinically significant refractive error and strabismus are detected and treated, the greater the likelihood of preventing amblyopia. Treatment for amblyopia in children includes: optical correction of significant refractive errors, patching, pharmacological treatment, and alternative therapies which include: vision therapy, binocular therapy, and liquid crystal display eyeglasses are newer treatment modalities for amblyopia. Age of starting the treatment is not predictive of outcome, instituting treatment on detection and early detection plays a role in achieving better outcomes. This review aims to give a simplified update on amblyopia, which will be of use to a clinician, in understanding the pathophysiology of the complex condition. We also share the cortical aspects of amblyopia and give recent developments in the treatment of amblyopia.

Características de los pacientes pediátricos con miopía por encima de 6 dioptrías / Characteristics of pediatric patients with greater than 6 diopter myopia

RESUMEN Objetivo: Identificar las características de los pacientes pediátricos con miopías por encima de 6 dioptrías. Métodos: Se realizó un estudio descriptivo y observacional, de corte longitudinal, en 43 niños entre 3 y 15 años de edad con diagnóstico de miopía igual o mayor de 6 dioptrías en uno o ambos ojos (72 ojos), quienes acudieron a la consulta del Servicio de Oftalmología Pediátrica y Estrabismo del Instituto Cubano de Oftalmología "Ramón Pando Ferrer" durante el periodo comprendido entre enero y diciembre del año 2018. Las variables del estudio fueron la edad, el sexo, el color de la piel, la miopía (isometrópica y anisometrópica), la longitud axial, la agudeza visual con corrección, el tipo de corrección óptica, la presencia y el grado de estereopsia. Resultados: Predominó el grupo de 3 a 5 años (34,4 por ciento), el sexo femenino y el color de la piel blanca. La longitud axial aumentó junto con el equivalente esférico de los pacientes. La corrección más usada correspondió a los cristales, aunque se demostró estadísticamente que con los lentes de gas permeables los pacientes presentaban mejor agudeza visual (p= 0,016), donde se registró también la media más alta de equivalente esférico. De 43 pacientes, 20 (46,5 por ciento) no presentaron estereopsia. Los pacientes con anisometropías (64 por ciento) no presentaron estereopsia, lo que fue estadísticamente significativo. Conclusiones: Con los lentes de gas permeables los pacientes presentan mejor agudeza visual y mayor equivalente esférico. La mayor cantidad de pacientes sin estereopsia corresponde a las miopías por anisometropías(AU)

ABSTRACT Objective: Identify the characteristics of pediatric patients with greater than 6 diopter myopia. Methods: An observational descriptive longitudinal study was conducted of 43 children aged 3-15 years diagnosed with myopia equal to or greater than 6 diopters in one or both eyes (72 eyes) who attended the Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus Service at Ramón Pando Ferrer Cuban Institute of Ophthalmology from January to December 2018. The variables considered were age, sex, skin color, myopia (isometropic or anisometropic), axial length, corrected visual acuity, type of optical correction, and presence and degree of stereopsis. Results: A predominance was found of the 3-5 years age group (34.4 percent), female sex and white skin color. Axial length increased with spherical equivalent. The most common correction was glasses, but it was statistically demonstrated that gas permeable lenses provided better visual acuity (p= 0.016) and the highest spherical equivalent mean. Of the 43 patients evaluated, 20 (46.5 percent) did not present stereopsis. Patients with anisometropia (64 percent) did not present stereopsis, which constituted a statistically significant fact. Conclusion: Gas permeable lenses provide better visual acuity and a greater spherical equivalent. Most of the patients without stereopsis have anisometropic myopia(AU)

Current Management of Childhood Amblyopia

Amblyopia is defined as the reduction of best-corrected visual acuity of one or both eyes caused by conditions that affect normal visual development. The basic strategy to treat amblyopia is to obtain a clear retinal image in each eye and correct ocular dominance through forced use of the amblyopic eye. Treatment modalities include correcting any underlying organic disease, prescribing appropriate optical correction, and providing occlusion/penalization therapy for the non-amblyopic eye. Given the success of amblyopia treatment declines with increasing age, the detection and management of amblyopia should begin as early as possible during the sensitive period for visual development. Proper management of amblyopia during childhood can reduce the overall prevalence and severity of visual loss. This study aims to provide an update for the management of childhood amblyopia to provide better visual outcomes.