Management of anisometropic abmlyopia in adults

Amblyopia is characterised by decrease in vision in one or both eyes as a result of processing defect in the visual pathways of the brain. It is considered an irreversible process if detected in the adult age group. This study was conducted from July 1 to December 31, 2010, at Shifa Foundation Community Health Centre, Islamabad, to determine if anisometropic amblyopia detected in adults can be reversed. A total of 15 adults, 11 (73.33%) males and 4 (26.66%) females, were managed for anisometropic amblyopia. All the patients were prescribed full cycloplegic correction in the anisometropic eye simultaneously with part-time occlusion therapy. Success was defined as visual acuity of 6/18 or better at the end of the therapy. All patients were required to complete a structured questionnaire regarding their experiences with the therapy. Reversal of amblyopia was observed in 11 (73.33%) patients who felt more confident about performing tasks for which they had earlier considered themselves unsuitable. Poor compliance was responsible for not producing the desired outcome in 4 (26.66%) patients. Anisometropic amblyopia in adults is reversible with dedicated efforts on behalf of both the ophthalmologist and the patient.