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Updated: Jun 22, 2026

The Measurement and Treatment of Suppression in Amblyopia
08:34

The Measurement and Treatment of Suppression in Amblyopia

Published on: December 14, 2012

Treatment of severe amblyopia with weekend atropine: results from 2 randomized clinical trials

Michael X Repka1, Raymond T Kraker, Roy W Beck

  • 1Wilmer Ophthalmological Institute, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, USA. pedig@jaeb.org

Journal of AAPOS : the Official Publication of the American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus
|June 23, 2009
PubMed

Insights

Weekend atropine effectively treats severe amblyopia in children aged 3-12. This treatment improved visual acuity in both younger and older children, showing promise for amblyopia therapy.

Area of Science:

  • Ophthalmology
  • Pediatric Medicine
  • Clinical Trials

Background:

  • Amblyopia, or "lazy eye," is a common cause of reduced vision in children.
  • Effective amblyopia treatment is crucial for long-term visual development.
  • Severe amblyopia often requires intensive therapeutic interventions.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the efficacy of weekend atropine as a treatment for severe amblyopia in children aged 3 to 12 years.
  • To compare weekend atropine with spectacle correction or daily patching for amblyopia management.
  • To assess visual acuity outcomes in children with amblyopia due to strabismus, anisometropia, or both.

Main Methods:

  • Two prospective, randomized multicenter clinical trials were conducted for severe amblyopia (visual acuity 20/125 to 20/400).
  • Trial 1 (ages 3-6) compared weekend atropine plus a plano lens versus weekend atropine plus full spectacle correction.
  • Trial 2 (ages 7-12) compared weekend atropine versus 2 hours of daily patching.

Main Results:

  • In Trial 1, both groups showed significant visual acuity improvement (4.5-5.1 lines).
  • In Trial 2, weekend atropine improved visual acuity by 1.5 lines, while patching improved it by 1.8 lines.
  • No statistically significant difference was noted between atropine and patching in older children.

Conclusions:

  • Weekend atropine demonstrates effectiveness in improving visual acuity for children with severe amblyopia.
  • The study suggests potential for greater visual acuity gains in younger children treated with weekend atropine.
  • Weekend atropine offers a viable alternative or adjunct therapy for pediatric amblyopia management.
Abstract

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