Analysis of retinal nerve fiber layer and macular thickness in amblyopic children treated with occlusion therapy

Purpose: To study and evaluate the change in retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) and macular thickness and its clinical correlation with visual outcome following amblyopia therapy. Methods: In this prospective interventional study, children with moderate to severe amblyopia were given optical correction and part-time occlusion therapy. Visual assessment and optical coherence tomography (OCT) were performed at days 0 and 3, 6 months of follow-up. Results: A total of 30 children aged from 5 to 12 years with a mean age of 5.26 ± 1.65 years with moderate to severe amblyopia were included. About 19 patients (63.33%) were males and 11 patients (36.66%) were females. Anisometropia was the most common cause of amblyopia in our study population affecting 46.67% of patients. The mean global RNFL thickness in amblyopic eyes before and after patch therapy were 111.13 um and 104.96 um respectively (6.17 um thinner than better eyes). The macular thickness before and after patch therapy was 227.06 um and 226.80 um respectively (0.26 um thinner than better eyes). Conclusions: Part-time occlusion therapy results in visual gain in children with moderate to severe amblyopia. However, it causes thinning in both the RNFL and macular thickness at days 0 and 3, 6 months of follow-up.