Abstract

Background/aims: Little is known about effectiveness of occlusion therapy in hospital settings. A retrospective analysis was conducted to assess modalities, outcome and hospital costs of children treated for amblyopia with patching in a UK clinic.

Methods: Notes of 322 children with amblyopia discharged after occlusion treatment were selected consecutively and reviewed. Data collated included age at presentation, amblyopia type, visual acuity (prior to/after occlusion and at discharge), number of prescribed hours of occlusion, duration of patching treatment, number of glasses prescribed and number of visits attended or failed to attend. Hospital treatment costs were estimated.

Results: Mixed amblyopes were prescribed the longest amount of patching (mean 2815hrs over 23 months) followed by strabismic (1984hrs) and anisometropic (1238hrs) amblyopes. 319 amblyopes received glasses and 5 atropine treatment. The percentage of patients reaching VA of 6/12 was best in anisometropic and strabismic groups (>75%) and worse in mixed amblyopia (64%). Average hospital costs were estimated at £1,365.

Conclusion: Although mean duration of treatment was long involving many hospital visits the visual outcome was variable, unsatisfactory (<6/9) and more expensive than necessary. Since compliance has been identified as major problem methods to improve amblyopia treatment are needed, possibly by using educational/motivational intervention.