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. 2023 Jul 6;13(7):1517.
doi: 10.3390/life13071517.

The Relationship between Fixation Stability and Retinal Structural Parameters in Children with Anisometropic, Strabismic and Mixed Amblyopia

Raquel Mompart-Martínez  1   2 , Marc Argilés  2   3 , Genis Cardona  2   4 , Lluís Cavero-Roig  1 , Lluís González-Sanchís  1 , Maria Soledad Pighin  1
Affiliations

The Relationship between Fixation Stability and Retinal Structural Parameters in Children with Anisometropic, Strabismic and Mixed Amblyopia

Raquel Mompart-Martínez et al. Life (Basel). .

Abstract

(1) Background: Amblyopia is an ocular condition leading to structural and functional changes. The relationship between these changes is complex and remains poorly understood. (2) Methods: Participants included 31 children aged 5 to 9 years with strabismic (n = 9), anisometropic (n = 16) and mixed (n = 6) unilateral amblyopia, and 14 age-matched non-amblyopic children. The 95% and 63% Bivariate Contour Ellipse Area (BCEA), axial length, Foveal Avascular Zone (FAZ) area, center macular thickness and volume were assessed. The relationship between these parameters was explored. (3) Results: Statistically significant differences were found among the four groups in best corrected distance visual acuity (BCVA) (p < 0.001), BCEA 95% (p = 0.002) and BCEA 63% (p = 0.002), but not in the FAZ area, central macular thickness, central macular volume and axial length. Eyes with amblyopia had poorer BCVA and larger fixation instability than controls. Inter-ocular differences were more significant in patients with strabismic amblyopia, particularly in BCVA (p = 0.003), central macular thickness (p < 0.001) and central macular volume (p = 0.002). In amblyopic eyes, BCEA 95% and 63% were correlated with BCVA, but not with the FAZ area. (4) Conclusion: Amblyopia is associated with a reduction in fixation stability and BCVA, although there is a general lack of correlation with structural changes, suggesting a complex interaction between anatomy and function in amblyopia.

Keywords: amblyopia; anisometropia; fixation stability; macular thickness; macular volume; retinal microvasculature; stereoacuity; strabismus.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Best fit elliptic contour containing either 95% (BCEA 95%) or 63% (BCEA 63%) of the fixation points in a patient with strabismic amblyopia. PRL: Preferred Retinal Locus.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Manually delimited foveal vascular zone (FAZ) area in a patient with strabismic amblyopia.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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