[Amblyopia from anisometropia without strabismus]

Fifty non-strabismic children with primary anisometropia were reviewed retrospectively. At entry, patients ranged in age from 1 to 10 years with an average of 4.5 years. The follow-up ranged from 0.5 to 9 years with an average of 3.5 years. Criteria for inclusion were a difference in refractive error between the two eyes of at least 1.00 D of spherical value and/or 0.75 D of cylindrical value. In all cases, anisometropia was totally corrected by prescribing glasses. Anisometropic amblyopia was considered to be present when isoacuity at far was not reached despite the glasses, part-time occlusion therapy of the good eye was prescribed. Amblyopia was present in 86% of the patients and was found with all types of anisometropia. It was more severe in anisohyperopia and/or anisoastigmatism. After adequate treatment, amblyopia was clinically cured or less severe in 78% of the patients.