The clinical outcomes of Occlusion for Monocular Amblyopia in Children More than 8 years

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: We schemed to help the therapeutic plan in amblyopic children of old age group by analyzing the clinical outcomes of occlusion therapy in amblyopic children more than 8 years old. METHODS: In 104 unilateral amblyopic children whose occlusion therapy had been finished, the retrospective study was performed. The average age at the beginning of treatment was 5.9 years (1.2~15.2 years). We divide the patients into three groups on the basis of age at the beginning of treatment below 4 years (group 1, N=41), 5~7 years (group 2, N=44), more than 8 years (group 3, N=19). The success rate of occlusion therapy in group 3 was compared with the success rate of other groups, and the clinical features of group 3 were analyzed. RESULTS: The success rate of occlusion therapy in group 3 (68.4%) was significantly low compared with other groups (p<0.05). In group 3, the success rate of anisometropic amblyopia (90.0%) was significnatly higher compared with the success rate of strabismic amblyopia (44.4%)(P<0.05), and it was similar to the success rate of anisometropic amblyopia of other groups. CONCLUSIONS: The success rate of occlusion therapy in amblyopic children more than 8 years old was significantly lower compared with other groups. But the clinical outcomes were fair, especially in anisometropic amblyopia. We suggest to enforce occlusion therapy in amblyopic children more than 8 years old.