The effect of age on occlusion therapy outcomes in amblyopia
Research type
Research Study
Full title
The effect of age on occlusion therapy outcomes in children with amblyopia aged 4-16 years
IRAS ID
260563
Contact name
Dipesh Patel
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 5 months, 2 days
Research summary
BACKGROUND
Amblyopia (lazy eye) is an eye and brain condition that affects about 4% of children. It affects the way eyesight develops, causing blurred vision. It is commonly caused by misalignment of the eyes (squint) and/or a need for glasses. Amblyopia usually only affects one eye.The first stage of treatment involves prescribing glasses, if required, and monitoring if vision improves over time (usually 3-6 months) as the brain adapts to a clear image.
In children whose vision does not improve to normal levels with glasses alone, further treatment is required. This is most commonly achieved by covering the better-seeing or normal eye for a number of hours per day, called "patching" or "occlusion therapy".
Treatment is most effective in children under 8 years of age, and limited evidence exists about how well treatment works in older children.
Improving understanding of treatment effectiveness will aid clinicians managing these cases, enabling more informative discussions with patients and families about likely treatment course, effect and length. It will also impact referral guidance, ensuring fewer children miss out on potentially effective treatments.
METHODS
The Moorfields Amblyopia Treatment Outcomes Database (MATOD) holds information on treatment outcomes for children treated across multiple Moorfields sites from 2012.Analyses will examine associations between treatment outcome (final vision) and routinely collected clinical ‘predictors’, such as age and level of vision at first presentation, strength of glasses prescription, presence of squint and level of depth perception.
OUTPUTS
Findings will be published in a peer-reviewed journal, disseminated at local meetings and a national conference, and publicised widely through professional networks and social media to reach the public and improve guidance for all eye professionals.REC name
North East - Tyne & Wear South Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
19/NE/0257
Date of REC Opinion
2 Aug 2019
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion