August, 2003
PCO Plays Key Role in Study of Eye-Patch Treatment for Amblyopia in Children
Two-hour daily patching of the unaffected eye of children with moderate amblyopia, or "lazy eye" disorder, works as well in treating the disorder as patching the eye for six hours, according to new research sponsored by the National Eye Institute (NEI). As many as three percent of children in the U.S. have some degree of vision impairment due to amblyopia.
The Pennsylvania College of Optometry served as one of 35 clinical sites nationwide for the landmark research, the results of which are published in the May 2003 issue of Archives of Ophthalmology. "PCO was selected to participate in the study because it is such a well-known and respected institution with a wealth of clinical research experience," explained Mitchell Scheiman, O.D., director of Binocular Vision and Pediatrics at PCO, who oversaw the College's part of the study.
The study showed that after four months of treatment, children with moderate amblyopia who wore an adhesive patch daily for two hours over their unaffected eye showed the same improvement in vision as those who wore a patch for six hours. Placing an opaque adhesive patch, or eye bandage, over the unaffected eye for six hours daily is considered one of the standard treatments for moderate amblyopia. Both groups of children in the study performed one hour a day of "near" work, such as coloring, tracing, reading, and crafts, while their eye was patched.
 |
 |
| Pictured participating in the Pennsylvania College of Optometry patching study conducted by Dr. Mitchell Scheiman are 6 year old twins, Marquita and Marquis Barefield being examined by PCO intern, Jimmy Joseph. | |
"These results will change the way doctors treat moderate amblyopia and make an immediate difference in treatment compliance and the quality of life for children with this eye disorder," said Paul A. Sieving, M.D., Ph.D., director of NEI, one of the federal government's National Institutes of Health. "Prior to these results, many children with amblyopia had to wear an eye patch during school hours. For these children, the accompanying social and psychological stigma was very real. Many were stared at and teased by other children, which made them feel different. Now, children can look forward to attending school without the patch."
Historically there has been a wide variance in the number of hours that doctors recommend children wear an eye patch to correct amblyopia, according to Dr. Scheiman. No prior study had provided conclusive evidence of the optimal number of patching hours. "The study designers wanted to determine the minimum number of hours the patch could be worn and still be effective in treating the disorder," he noted.
Amblyopia, which usually begins in infancy or childhood, is a condition of poor vision in an otherwise healthy eye because the brain has learned to favor the other eye. Although the eye with amblyopia often looks normal, there is interference with normal visual processing that limits the development of a portion of the brain responsible for vision. The most common causes of amblyopia are crossed or wandering eyes or significant differences in refractive error, such as farsightedness or nearsightedness, between the two eyes.
"The findings make it much easier for parents to monitor their children and encourage children to successfully comply with treatment," said study chairman Michael Repka, M.D., professor of ophthalmology and pediatrics at the Wilmer Eye Institute of Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine in Baltimore. "Timely and successful treatment for amblyopia in childhood can prevent lifelong visual impairment.