Is age relevant for the success of treatment of anisometropic amblyopia?

ABSTRACT

A prospective cohort study of 200 anisometropic amblyopes was conducted. The patients were classified into two groups. Group A Patients less than 12 years of age. This consisted of 144 (72%) patients, the average age being 7.77 years (+/-2.34, range 1 to 12). Group B Patients more than 12 years of age. This comprised 56 (28%) patients, the average age being 19.8 years (+/-5.47, range 12 to 30). Criterion for success was defined as best corrected visual acuity of 20/40 (0.5 logMAR equivalent) or better. The Chi-square test was used to compare baseline characteristics and success rates. There were no significant differences in the baseline characteristics between the two groups ( P =0.07). The treatment was successful in 108 (75%) in Group A and in 34 (60.7%) in Group B ( P = 0.07). There was no statistically significant change in the success rate of treatment of anisometropic amblyopia, even beyond 12 years of age.