Evaluation of optical coherence tomography findings according to treatment response in patients with amblyopia

To investigate whether there is a difference in optical coherence tomography (OCT) parameters between patients who respond to treatment for amblyopia, patients who do not respond to treatment, and children who do not have amblyopia.

Children were divided into three groups: those with full visual acuity after amblyopia treatment, Group 1; those without complete visual acuity, Group 2; and those without amblyopia, Group 3. Macular thickness (MT), retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL), ganglion cell complex (GCC), and choroidal vascular index (CVI) parameters were measured by OCT and compared among the three groups.

A total of 110 eyes of 55 patients with amblyopia and 37 eyes of 37 healthy children were included in the study. There was no difference between the three groups in the mean central MT, RNFL, GCC, and CVI. A difference in macular inner temporal value was detected between Group 1 and 2 amblyopic eyes and the control group. There was a statistically significant difference between the 3 groups in the RNFL Superior and RNFL SN. However, there was no statistically significant difference between Group 1 and Group 2 in the 9-region MT or 12-region RNFL.

Although there was a difference in the macular inner temporal, RNFL SUP, and RNFL SN parameters when the control group and children who received amblyopia treatment were compared, there was no difference in OCT parameters in treatment responder and nonresponder children after amblyopia treatment. OCT parameters do not provide additional information about the response to treatment for amblyopia.