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. 2006 Jul 19:(3):CD005136.
doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD005136.pub2.

Interventions for stimulus deprivation amblyopia

S Hatt  1 , A Antonio-Santos, C Powell, S S Vedula
Affiliations

Interventions for stimulus deprivation amblyopia

S Hatt et al. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. .

Update in

Abstract

Background: Stimulus deprivation amblyopia (SDA) develops due to an obstruction to the clear passage of light, preventing clear formation of an image on the retina for example, cataract, ptosis (droopy eyelid). It is particularly severe and can be resistant to treatment and the visual prognosis is often poor. Stimulus deprivation amblyopia is rare and precise estimates of prevalence difficult to come by; it probably constitutes less than 3% of all cases of amblyopia. In developed countries most patients present under the age of one; in less developed parts of the world presentation is likely to be significantly later than this.The mainstay of treatment is patching of the better-seeing eye but regimes vary, treatment is difficult to execute and results are often disappointing.

Objectives: The objectives of this review were to evaluate the effectiveness of occlusion treatment for SDA, determine the optimum treatment regime and factors that may affect outcome.

Search strategy: We searched the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials - CENTRAL (which contains the Cochrane Eyes and Vision Group Trials Register) on The Cochrane Library (2006, Issue 1), MEDLINE (1996 to April 2006), EMBASE (1980 to April 2006) and LILACS (Latin American and Caribbean Literature on Health Sciences) (to November 2004). There were no date or language restrictions.

Selection criteria: We aimed to include randomised and quasi-randomised controlled trials of subjects with unilateral SDA defined as worse than 0.2 LogMAR or equivalent. There were no restrictions with respect to age, gender, ethnicity, co-morbidities, medication use, and the number of participants.

Data collection and analysis: Two authors independently assessed study abstracts identified by the electronic searches.

Main results: No trials were identified that met the inclusion criteria.

Authors' conclusions: It is not possible to conclude how effective treatment for SDA is or which treatment regime produces the best results. There is a need for further study in this area.

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Conflict of interest statement

Potential Conflict of Interest: None known

References

References to excluded studies

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    1. Clarke MP, Wright CM, Hrisos S, Anderson JD, Henderson J, Richardson SR. Randomised controlled trial of treatment of unilateral visual impairment detected at preschool vision screening. BMJ. 2003;327(7426):1251. - PMC - PubMed
    1. Cramer FE, Lamela N, Luqui Lagleyze J, Corsellas A. Use of the electronic flash in the pleoptic treatment of amblyopias [Uso del flash electronico en el tratamiento pleoptico de las ambliopias] Arquivos brasileiros de oftalmologia. 1966;29(3):83–8. - PubMed
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    1. Fletcher MC, Silverman SJ, Boyd J, Callaway M. Biostatistical studies. Comparison of the management of suppression amblyopia by conventional patching, intensive hospital pleoptics, and intermittent office pleoptics. American Orthoptic Journal. 1969;19:40–7. - PubMed

Additional references

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    1. Awaya S, Miyake Y, Imaizumi Y, Shinose Y, Kanda T, Komoru K. Amblyopia in man, suggestive of stimulus deprivation amblyopia. Japanese Journal of Ophthalmology. 1973;17:69–82.
    1. Birch EE, Stager DR, Wright WW. Grating acuity development after early surgery for congenital unilateral cataract. Archives of Ophthalmology. 1986;104:1783–7. - PubMed
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