Optimal compliance for amblyopia therapy: occlusion with a translucent tape on the lens

Can J Ophthalmol. 2009 Oct;44(5):523-8. doi: 10.3129/i09-122.

Abstract

Objective: To demonstrate that optimal compliance to amblyopia therapy and a better visual outcome can be achieved by occluding the lens over the preferred eye with a translucent tape.

Study design: Prospective study of amblyopic children.

Participants: Eighty-four amblyopic children recruited from 2000 to 2006 at the Montreal Children's Vision Centre.

Methods: A group of bilateral ametropes (mean age 3.8 years) were treated with glasses and occlusion of the sound eye with a translucent tape on the lens over the preferred eye, or an adhesive patch. The translucent tape reduced vision to hand motion at 0.3 m in the sound eye. Patients were divided into 2 groups depending on the treatment received. Group 1 (n = 36) was occluded with a translucent tape, and group 2 (n = 48) with a conventional adhesive patch, later replaced by the translucent tape. Twenty-five previously reported patients, treated with the conventional adhesive patch only, were used as controls (group 3).

Results: The mean amblyopic visual acuity was 20/100-2. Compliance was good in 36 patients (group 1), and was poor or deteriorated in 24/48 patients (group 2). Substituting the adhesive patch with a translucent tape permitted uninterrupted and prolonged occlusion, with a successful visual outcome. The amblyopic eye achieved a significantly better final vision (20/30+2; groups 1+2) than the controls (20/40+1; group 3) (p = 0.04). Sixty-four (76.19%) patients achieved >or=20/30.

Conclusions: The translucent tape optimizes compliance and yields better vision by lengthening the duration of occlusion therapy and reducing the number of treatment failures due to noncompliance.

MeSH terms

  • Amblyopia / physiopathology
  • Amblyopia / therapy*
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • Eyeglasses
  • Humans
  • Infant
  • Occlusive Dressings*
  • Patient Compliance*
  • Prospective Studies
  • Sensory Deprivation*
  • Visual Acuity / physiology