Effectiveness of occlusion VS penalization in amblyopic patients

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To assess comparison and effectiveness of occlusion vs penalization in amblyopic patient.

METHOD: A quasi-experimental study was conducted at COAVS KEMU Mayo Hospital Lahore. Fifty amblyopic patients were enrolled for
the study which took place from June to November 2021. Visual acuity, contrast sensitivty and color vision was assesed before and after the treatment. Both the ETDRS and the Snellen chart were used to assess visual acuity. Data was entered by using SPSS-21.

RESULT: 50 patients with amblyopia were enrolled in patching (n=25) and atropine groups (n=25).The six-month follow-up was
accomplished by all patients. Both the patching and atropine groups, as well as their subclasses, saw significant improvements in visual acuity from the beginning to 6 months (p<0.001). The atropine and patching groups had similar visual acuity in the beginning as well as at all the follow-up examinations at three-monthly periods, including six months, demonstrating no meaningful difference in treatment response. Both groups' ETDRS visual acuity improved. In the atropine group, conjunctival redness was detected substantially more commonly, while the patching group complained of small but noticeable tendency toward increased itching of the patched area.

CONCLUSION: Amblyopia responds equally well to both occlusion and penalization in children aged 1 to 20 years. Patching patients had slightly faster responses to therapy. Near acuity improves more in patching patients.

KEYWORDS: Amblyopia, Comparison, Occlusion, Penalization.