A clinical study of partial occlusion therapy in management of amblyopia in children aged 5 years to 15 years

AIM OF THE STUDY: 1. To determine the prevalence of amblyopia in school going children 2. To study the types of amblyopia occurring during school years. METHODOLOGY: This is cross sectional and time bound study. This study is to be conducted among 50 children attending the OP as well as the screening school health programs. Inclusion Criterion: Patients aged 5-15 years. Exclusion Criteria: 1. Patients with known cause of reduced visual acuity 2. Patients with myopia greater than spherical equivalent of -6.00D. 3. History of previous amblyopia treatment within one year of involvement. 4. Prior intraocular surgery. 5. Known skin reaction to patch or bandage adhesive 6. Dropouts and non-compliant patients were excluded from final analysis. METHODOLOGY: Children with decreased visual acuity and complaints of asthenopia and deviation of eye were thoroughly examined and their refractive status, anterior segment evaluation and posterior segment examination was done. A diagnosis of Amblyopia was made and they were further grouped into moderate and severe. A few numbers of the patients who presented with temporal pallor of disc were subjected to CT scan to rule out organic lesion. A thorough refractive correction was done. Compliance to treatment for more effective results was stressed to both the patient and parents. They were followed up after three months. However, a very limited number of patients who failed to improve even after six months were referred for alternate treatment options. CONCLUSION: There is a significant difference in the outcomes with age as a factor and patients with normal posterior segment showed better results in three months than patients with temporal pallor of the disc, however the tessellated fundus being a confounding factor. Role of community ophthalmology is keystone in prevention of development of amblyopia