Severe visual loss resulting from occlusion therapy for amblyopia

Two children developed profound visual loss in the eye being patched full time because of strabismic amblyopia in the fellow eye. The first had been patched for 13 days at age 18 months. Complete resolution was noted on the 40th day of reverse occlusion. The second had been patched for 1 month at age 9 months. After 3 months without treatment, reverse occlusion was instituted and was continued for 3 years. Mild amblyopia persists in both eyes of the second child. Although rare, occlusion amblyopia can occur in young children being patched full time. We usually avoid full-time occlusion and monitor patients at intervals at least as frequent as 1 week per year of age.