Korean J Ophthalmol.  2018 Aug;32(4):312-318. 10.3341/kjo.2017.0101.

Macular Thickness in Moderate to Severe Amblyopia

• Rajavi Z
• Sabbaghi H
• Behradfar
• Yaseri M
• Aghazadeh Amiri M
• Faghihi M

• KMID: 2418152
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3341/kjo.2017.0101

Abstract

PURPOSE
To compare the macular retinal thickness of moderately to severely amblyopic eyes with non-amblyopic eyes as controls.
METHODS
This case control study was conducted on 56 children aged 4 to 10 years old (64.3% female subjects). Twenty-eight children had unilateral amblyopia (28 amblyopic eyes as cases and 28 normal fellow eyes as internal controls) and 28 children had normal visual acuity in both eyes and were considered as external controls (n = 56 eyes). Among our cases, 14 had strabismic amblyopia and 14 had anisometropic amblyopia. Macular retinal thickness was measured using optical coherence tomography at the center and in 1-, 3-, and 6-mm rings.
RESULTS
Best-corrected visual acuity of the amblyopic eyes was less than that of the internal and external controls, and the best-corrected visual acuity of their fellow eyes was also less than that of the external controls. Thickness of the central macula and a 1-mm ring area in the amblyopic eyes was higher than that of both internal and external controls. Difference of central macular thickness ≥20 µm between two eyes of the amblyopic children was significantly more than non-amblyopic subjects.
CONCLUSIONS
Based on the results of this study, the macular retinal thickness was significantly higher in moderate to severe amblyopic eyes compared to their fellow eyes and external controls. This might be due to macular developmental disorders in amblyopic eyes. Therefore, optical coherence tomography imaging is recommended if subtle macular abnormalities are suspected in moderate to severe amblyopic eyes.

Keyword

Amblyopia; Macular retinal thickness; Optical coherence tomography; Strabismic amblyopia

MeSH Terms

Amblyopia*
Case-Control Studies
Child
Female
Humans
Retinaldehyde
Tomography, Optical Coherence
Visual Acuity
Retinaldehyde

Figure

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  Fig. 1 Central retinal thickness (foveola) in (A) strabismic and (B) anisometropic amblyopic and control eyes.

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  Fig. 2 Retinal thickness at 1-mm ring (fovea) in (A) strabismic and (B) anisometropic amblyopic and control eyes.

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