Comprehensive review of amblyopia: Types and management

Abstract

The optimal method of treatment for a child depends on the patient's age at the time of diagnosis, the onset and type of amblyopia, and the degree of compliance attainable. In deprivation amblyopia, the cause of visual impairment (e.g., cataract, ptosis) needs to be treated first, and then the disorder can be treated such as other types of amblyopia. Anisometropic amblyopia needs glasses first. In strabismic amblyopia, conventionally amblyopia should be treated first, and then strabismus corrected. Correction of strabismus will have little if any effect on the amblyopia, although the timing of surgery is controversial. Best outcomes are achieved if amblyopia is treated before the age of 7 years. The earlier the treatment, the more efficacious it is. In selected cases of bilateral amblyopia, the more defective eye must be given a competitive advantage over the comparatively good eye. Glasses alone can work when a refractive component is present, but occlusion might make the glasses work faster. The gold standard therapy for amblyopia remains occlusion of the better eye although penalization is also evidenced to achieve equal results. Pharmacotherapy has been shown to achieve suboptimal outcomes. Newer monocular and binocular therapies based on neural tasks and games are adjuncts to patching and can also be used in adults.

Keywords: Amblyopia; occlusion; patching.