Comparison of the Thickness and Volume of the Macula and Fovea in Patients with Anisometropic Amblyopia Prior to and after Occlusion Therapy

Abstract

PurposeTo compare the thickness of superior, temporal, inferior, and nasal macula and foveal thickness and volume in patients with anisometropic amblyopia prior to and after successful occlusion therapy using optical coherence tomography (OCT) measurement.MethodsData were collected prospectively on 30 patients with unilateral anisometropic amblyopia from December 2006 to August 2007. All patients had anisometropia of 2.0 diopters or more. OCT scans were obtained for all patients at diagnosis. Occlusion therapy was then prescribed and OCT scans were obtained again at the time of successful occlusion therapy (defined as interocular difference of <0.1 log units). The Stratus OCT-3 was used to measure fovea thickness and volume and the thickness of superior, temporal, inferior, and nasal macula (within a diameter of 3 mm).ResultsOf 30 patients, 22 (mean age of 5.8 years) had successful resolution of amblyopia. The mean duration of occlusion was 11.24 months and mean best-corrected visual acuity at diagnosis was 0.35 ± 0.12 logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution. The mean thicknesses of the superior, temporal, inferior, and nasal macula prior to and after occlusion were not significantly different (p > 0.05). However, mean foveal volume prior to occlusion therapy (0.15 ± 0.02 mm3) decreased after occlusion (0.14 ± 0.01 mm3) with statistical significance (Wilcoxon signed rank test, p = 0.025).ConclusionsThere was a meaningful decrease in foveal volume in patients with anisometropic amblyopia after successful occlusion therapy. Whether this decrease relates to visual improvement of the amblyopic eye remains to be determined.

Analysis of macular, foveal, and retinal nerve fiber layer thickness in children with unilateral anisometropic amblyopia and their changes following occlusion therapy

“…Similar results were found in other studies. [61320] With respect to RNFLT, we found no statistically significant difference in amblyopic eyes compared to normal fellow eyes and normal eyes of normal children. This was consistent with other studies.…”

Commentary: Analysis of macular, foveal and retinal nerve fiber layer thickness in children with unilateral anisometropic amblyopia and their changes following occlusion therapy

“…[34] These reports suggest conflicting results about the changes in RNFL thickness but more consistently increased macular thickness in the amblyopic eyes thickness. [567] In a further leap, authors in the current study report changes in these parameters following occlusion therapy.…”

“…In a similar study, Yoon et al . [7] had shown a small reduction in the foveal volume following compliant amblyopia therapy. However, their study did not have any control groups.…”