Spectacles Alone May Benefit Children In The Treatment Of Childhood’s Most Common Eye Disorder
August 3, 2006
Surprising results from a recent clinical trial show that many children with anisometropic amblyopia, or lazy eye induced by a difference in refractive error between the two eyes, can benefit from the treatment of spectacle correction alone.
Prior to this research, many eye care professionals believed that treating amblyopia with spectacle correction alone was not effective and patching or pharmacological treatment was necessary as well. This study was funded by the National Institute of Health and conducted by the Pediatric Eye Disease Investigator Group at thirty-four clinical sites throughout North America, including Wolfe Eye Clinic in Des Moines under the direction of Donny W. Suh, pediatric ophthalmologist.
Eighty-four children ranging from 3 to 6 years of age, with formerly untreated anisometropic amblyopia participated. Optimal refractive correction, or spectacle prescription was provided, and visual acuity was measured at 5-week intervals until it stabilized or the amblyopia resolved. The study found that 77% of patients were able to improve 2 of more lines of visual acuity and the amblyopia resolved completely in 27% of patients.
What is amblyopia? Amblyopia, also known as lazy eye is the medical term used when vision in one of the eyes is reduced because the eye and the brain are not working together properly. The eye affected by amblyopia will appear normal, but will not function properly because the brain is favoring the other eye. It is estimated that as many as four percent of children in the U.S. have some degree of vision impairment due to amblyopia.
Dr. Suh says the condition can stem from several underlying vision impairments. Misalignment of a child's eyes, such as crossed eyes, or a difference in image quality due to the refractive error between the two eyes are common causes of amblyopia. In both situations, one eye becomes stronger, suppressing the image of the other eye.
"Without treatment, the weaker eye may become nonfunctional," said Suh. "Patching, or covering the better-seeing eye in an effort to force the lazy eye to work harder, thereby strengthening its vision, is currently the most common treatment for amblyopia. This method may take weeks, months or even years to resolve the condition. And, it can often cause anxiety and embarrassment for children."
According to Dr. Suh, Many children would much prefer simply wearing common spectacles instead of a patch, which they feel is a nuisance and stands out to others. The results of this clinical study offer a potentially less stressful experience for the patient and everyone involved.
In medical practice since 1919, Wolfe Eye Clinic is a recognized regional diagnostic and surgical center offering the broadest range of professional care in the specialties of ophthalmology and otolaryngology. With 37 locations throughout Iowa, including Marshalltown, Ames, Fort Dodge, West Des Moines, Cedar Rapids, Waterloo and Cedar Falls, Wolfe Eye Clinic provides expert eye care and convenience to all Iowans.
For more information on the treatment of pediatric eye conditions, glaucoma, cataracts, diabetic eye disease, laser vision correction, and other ocular diseases, please call 1-800-542-7956.