ABSTRACT
Purpose: To investigate the relationship between visual acuity (VA) and stereoacuity after occlusion therapy in patients with various types of amblyopia.
Methods: 61 children with amblyopia caused by anisometropia with no strabismus (26 children), small angle (≤ 8PD ) or intermittent strabismus (20), or both (15). All were treated with occlusion therapy. VA and near stereopsis using the Titmus test (Stereo Optical Inc, Chicago) were measured at each clinic visit.
Results: Mean age at initiation of therapy was 5.1 years (range 3.5 – 8) and mean follow-up 52.3 weeks (range 13 – 192). Mean duration of occlusion was 36 weeks (range 12 – 102). After occlusion treatment, mean VA of all children improved from 0.43 to 0.78 (P < .0001), while mean stereoacuity improved from 1167.4 seconds of arc to 101(P < .0001). By the last visit, 85.2% (52/61) of patients demonstrated at least 2 lines improvement in VA. There was a significant linear relationship between VA and stereoacuity (P < .001). The 26 anisometropic patients without strabismus enjoyed a similar improvement in VA and stereopsis (P< .0001), as did the 35 with small angle or intermittent strabismus (P< .0001).
Conclusions: When employing occlusion therapy for amblyopia (due to anisometropia, small angle or intermittent strabismus, or a combination), as visual acuity improves, stereopsis generally also improves.
