Detection, prevention, and rehabilitation of amblyopia

We are seemingly entering into a photoscreening era in this new year 2000. An increasing number of publications in 1999 have dealt with this particular method of detecting vision problems in children. In the same periods, interesting and promising developments on the rehabilitation of amblyopia have been reported. Moreover, the problem of compliance with amblyopia therapy seems finally to have been solved with the help of microchips and heat sensorsi On the other hand, reports on both pharmacologic and penalization rehabilitation methods continue to show good reliability and clinical relevance. Finally, as in a previous review in 1998, we feel compelled to bring up at least one controversial issue; it is no surprise to find at least two seemingly erudite recent publications reputing not only the validity of vision screening in children, but the value of the treatment of amblyopia itself. We report here a most important study that responds to the challenge.