Late Ophthalmologic Referral of Anisometropic Amblyopia: A Retrospective Study of Different Amblyopia Subtypes

Authors

  • Maria João Vieira School of Medicine, University of Minho, School of Medicine. University of Minho. Braga. Department of Ophthalmology. Hospital de Santo André. Centro Hospitalar de Leiria. Leiria.
  • Sandra Viegas Guimarães Life and Health Sciences Research Institute. School of Medicine. University of Minho. Braga. ICVS/3Bs. PT Government Associate Laboratory. Braga/Guimarães. Department of Ophthalmology. Hospital de Braga. Braga.
  • Patrício Costa Life and Health Sciences Research Institute. School of Medicine. University of Minho. Braga. ICVS/3Bs. PT Government Associate Laboratory. Braga/Guimarães. Clinical Academic Center-Braga. Braga.
  • Eduardo Silva Centro Cirúrgico de Coimbra. Coimbra. IBILI. Faculty of Medicine. University of Coimbra. Coimbra. Department of Ophthalmology. Centro Hospitalar Lisboa Norte. Lisbon.

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.20344/amp.10623

Keywords:

Amblyopia/epidemiology, Anisometropia/epidemiology

Abstract

Introduction: Amblyopia requires a timely diagnosis and treatment to attain maximum vision recovery. Specialty literature is lacking on how early amblyopia is referred. We aimed to understand if there are mean age differences at first referral for ophthalmologic tertiary center consultation among non-amblyopic and different types of amblyopia, in a context of lack of population screening.
Material and Methods: In this retrospective model, the sample corresponded to all children born in Braga Hospital during 1997 - 2012 (3 - 18 years-old), with an ophthalmologic consultation in 2014. Data was collected from the clinical records and children were divided in a non-amblyopic versus amblyopic group. The amblyopic group was subdivided in strabismic versus refractive (anisometropic/bilateral).
Results: The sample had a total of 1665 participants, 1369 (82.2%) without amblyopia and 296 (17.8%) with amblyopia. Among amblyopia: 67.9% (n = 201) refractive, 32.1% (n = 95) strabismic. Within refractive amblyopia: 63.7% (n = 128) anisometropic and 36.3% (n = 73) bilateral. The mean age at first consultation was 6.24 ± 3.90 years-old: 6.39 ± 3.98 for non-amblyopic and 5.76 ± 3.58 for amblyopic. Among amblyopia subgroups, there were significant differences in mean age at first consultation (F3,1250 = 8.45; p < 0.001; η2 = 0.020). Strabismic and bilateral refractive amblyopia were referred earlier, when compared to non-amblyopia or anisometropic amblyopia (p < 0.05). Anisometropic amblyopia had the highest first consultation mean age: 6.92 ± 3.57 years-old.
Discussion: Without specific pre-school screening, children with amblyopia were referred to their first ophthalmologic evaluation significantly later than desired, especially anisometropic amblyopia, with a postschool mean age for first consultation.
Conclusion: Recognizing high-risk children is essential for earlier referral and helps minimize future visual handicap.

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Published

2019-03-29

How to Cite

1.
Vieira MJ, Guimarães SV, Costa P, Silva E. Late Ophthalmologic Referral of Anisometropic Amblyopia: A Retrospective Study of Different Amblyopia Subtypes. Acta Med Port [Internet]. 2019 Mar. 29 [cited 2024 Mar. 29];32(3):179-82. Available from: https://actamedicaportuguesa.com/revista/index.php/amp/article/view/10623

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Section

Original