[Amblyopia without strabismus in context of research on concomitant strabismus]

To evaluate pathogenic factors for unilateral amblyopia in the group of amblyopic patients without strabismus.

In the study 141 patients with unilateral amblyopia without strabismus were evaluated according to age, sex, visual acuity, refraction error, presence of anisometropia, age of mother on delivery, weight on birth, hereditary transmission of strabismus or refractive error, pregnancy and delivery complications, response to treatment.

Serious birth and pregnancy complications were noted only in 14.2% of cases, hereditary transmission might be suspected in 41.2% of patients. Anisometropia was found in 72% of cases. No significant difference in prevalence of possible pathogenic or risk factors such as age, sex, birth-weight, age of mother on delivery, hereditary transmission, pregnancy or delivery complications were found between anisometropic and isometropic group. Anisometropic group had bigger refractive error and deeper amblyopia, but responded better to treatment.

Etiology of amblyopia without strabismus, particularly in the group of patients with isometropia, should be associated with trauma to central nervous system either in pre-natal or early after birth period.