Hassan Koohian, Ramisa Farsad, Hossein Bagheri
Department of Ophthalmology, Imam Hossein Hospital, Shahroud, Iran

Aim: To evaluate the effect of patch therapy on visual acuity of patients with anisometropic amblyopia.
Methods: Sixty six patients with anisometropic amblyopia were randomised to receive patch therapy or no therapy. Visual acuity of  both eyes was tested for all patients. Based on the visual acuity in the amblyopic eye, patients were prescribed daily patching of the better eye with an ophthalmic shield for 3 to 6 hours. Visual acuity of both eyes was tested 3 and 6 months after starting patch therapy.
Results: There was a significant difference in the mean visual acuity of the treatment group at the start of patch therapy, and at 3 and 6 months after therapy. There was no significant difference in the mean visual acuity in the control group. There was a significant difference in the mean visual acuity between the treatment group and the control group 3 and 6 months after patch therapy. There was no significant difference in the mean visual acuity between the prescribed times of 2, 3 to 4, and 5 to 6 hours.
Conclusion: Patch therapy to the better eye can increase visual acuity for patients with amblyopia.

Key words: Amblyopia, Visual acuity

Asian J Ophthalmol. 2007;9:125-128.