Treatment options for anisohyperopia

Abstract

Purpose: To investigate the success of conventional methods in the treatment of anisohyperopic amblyopia.

Methods: A retrospective chart review of all patients with anisohyperopic amblyopia seen at the UCSD/ Ratner Children's Eye Center during a 42-month period was performed. The charts of 35 patients aged 3 to 14 years (mean age, 6.8 years) with 1.5 to 6.5 diopters of anisohyperopia were reviewed. Main outcome measures were the difference in refractive error and the pre- and post-treatment Snellen equivalent distance acuities. Treatment consisted of one or a combination of the following: spectacles, contact lenses, patching, and atropine. Binocularity was determined using the Titmus test. Compliance to treatment also was rated.

Results: Thirteen (37.1%) patients were treated with spectacles alone, 11 (31.5%) were treated with a combination of atropine and patching, 8 (22.8%) were treated with patching alone, 2 (5.7%) received blurring contact lenses, and 1 (2.9%) patient was treated with atropine alone. The average pretreatment visual acuity was 20/108, with an improvement to an average of 20/27 at the termination of treatment. Ninety-four percent of the patients obtained a visual acuity of 20/40 or better.

Conclusions: Conventional methods of treatment are effective in improving vision and binocular status in anisohyperopia. Depending on the patient, only spectacles may be required.