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Current Opinion in Ophthalmology Jul 2024Pediatric refractive surgery has been growing at a steady pace since its introduction in the early 1980 s. This article will review common laser refractive surgeries... (Review)
Review
PURPOSE OF REVIEW
Pediatric refractive surgery has been growing at a steady pace since its introduction in the early 1980 s. This article will review common laser refractive surgeries performed on pediatric patients along with controversies regarding the practice.
RECENT FINDINGS
Pediatric refractive surgery is reserved for a small population of children who fail amblyopic treatment due to high anisometropic refractive errors. Publications over the years have treated these children with various types of laser refractive surgery.
SUMMARY
Laser pediatric refractive surgery appears to be well tolerated and effective for the population of children that need it. It provides an alternative for anisometropic amblyopia treatment for children who would have otherwise not been able to improve their vision.
Topics: Humans; Child; Amblyopia; Refractive Surgical Procedures; Ophthalmology; Child, Preschool; Refractive Errors; Anisometropia
PubMed: 38704713
DOI: 10.1097/ICU.0000000000001057 -
Lancet (London, England) May 2024Amblyopia, the most common visual impairment of childhood, is a public health concern. An extended period of optical treatment before patching is recommended by the... (Randomized Controlled Trial)
Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study
Extended optical treatment versus early patching with an intensive patching regimen in children with amblyopia in Europe (EuPatch): a multicentre, randomised controlled trial.
BACKGROUND
Amblyopia, the most common visual impairment of childhood, is a public health concern. An extended period of optical treatment before patching is recommended by the clinical guidelines of several countries. The aim of this study was to compare an intensive patching regimen, with and without extended optical treatment (EOT), in a randomised controlled trial.
METHODS
EuPatch was a randomised controlled trial conducted in 30 hospitals in the UK, Greece, Austria, Germany, and Switzerland. Children aged 3-8 years with newly detected, untreated amblyopia (defined as an interocular difference ≥0·30 logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution [logMAR] best corrected visual acuity [BCVA]) due to anisometropia, strabismus, or both were eligible. Participants were randomly assigned (1:1) via a computer-generated sequence to either the EOT group (18 weeks of glasses use before patching) or to the early patching group (3 weeks of glasses use before patching), stratified for type and severity of amblyopia. All participants were initially prescribed an intensive patching regimen (10 h/day, 6 days per week), supplemented with motivational materials. The patching period was up to 24 weeks. Participants, parents or guardians, assessors, and the trial statistician were not masked to treatment allocation. The primary outcome was successful treatment (ie, ≤0·20 logMAR interocular difference in BCVA) after 12 weeks of patching. Two primary analyses were conducted: the main analysis included all participants, including those who dropped out, but excluded those who did not provide outcome data at week 12 and remained on the study; the other analysis imputed this missing data. All eligible and randomly assigned participants were assessed for adverse events. This study is registered with the International Standard Randomised Controlled Trial Number registry (ISRCTN51712593) and is no longer recruiting.
FINDINGS
Between June 20, 2013, and March 12, 2020, after exclusion of eight participants found ineligible after detailed screening, we randomly assigned 334 participants (170 to the EOT group and 164 to the early patching group), including 188 (56%) boys, 146 (44%) girls, and two (1%) participants whose sex was not recorded. 317 participants (158 in the EOT group and 159 in the early patching group) were analysed for the primary outcome without imputation of missing data (median follow-up time 42 weeks [IQR 42] in the EOT group vs 27 weeks [27] in the early patching group). 24 (14%) of 170 participants in the EOT group and ten (6%) of 164 in the early patching group were excluded or dropped out of the study, mostly due to loss to follow-up and withdrawal of consent; ten (6%) in the EOT group and three (2%) in the early patching group missed the 12 week visit but remained on the study. A higher proportion of participants in the early patching group had successful treatment (107 [67%] of 159) than those in the EOT group (86 [54%] of 158; 13% difference; p=0·019) after 12 weeks of patching. No serious adverse events related to the interventions occurred.
INTERPRETATION
The results from this trial indicate that early patching is more effective than EOT for the treatment of most children with amblyopia. Our findings also provide data for the personalisation of amblyopia treatments.
FUNDING
Action Medical Research, NIHR Clinical Research Network, and Ulverscroft Foundation.
Topics: Humans; Amblyopia; Child, Preschool; Female; Male; Child; Eyeglasses; Visual Acuity; Sensory Deprivation; Treatment Outcome; Europe
PubMed: 38704172
DOI: 10.1016/S0140-6736(23)02893-3 -
New advances in amblyopia therapy: early patching is more effective than extended optical treatment.Lancet (London, England) May 2024
Topics: Amblyopia; Humans; Sensory Deprivation; Child, Preschool; Child; Treatment Outcome
PubMed: 38704157
DOI: 10.1016/S0140-6736(24)00350-7 -
Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual... May 2024This study aimed to explore the underlying mechanisms of the observed visuomotor deficit in amblyopia.
PURPOSE
This study aimed to explore the underlying mechanisms of the observed visuomotor deficit in amblyopia.
METHODS
Twenty-four amblyopic (25.8 ± 3.8 years; 15 males) and 22 normal participants (25.8 ± 2.1 years; 8 males) took part in the study. The participants were instructed to continuously track a randomly moving Gaussian target on a computer screen using a mouse. In experiment 1, the participants performed the tracking task at six different target sizes. In experiments 2 and 3, they were asked to track a target with the contrast adjusted to individual's threshold. The tracking performance was represented by the kernel function calculated as the cross-correlation between the target and mouse displacements. The peak, latency, and width of the kernel were extracted and compared between the two groups.
RESULTS
In experiment 1, target size had a significant effect on the kernel peak (F(1.649, 46.170) = 200.958, P = 4.420 × 10-22). At the smallest target size, the peak in the amblyopic group was significantly lower than that in the normal group (0.089 ± 0.023 vs. 0.107 ± 0.020, t(28) = -2.390, P = 0.024) and correlated with the contrast sensitivity function (r = 0.739, P = 0.002) in the amblyopic eyes. In experiments 2 and 3, with equally visible stimuli, there were still differences in the kernel between the two groups (all Ps < 0.05).
CONCLUSIONS
When stimulus visibility was compensated, amblyopic participants still showed significantly poorer tracking performance.
Topics: Humans; Amblyopia; Male; Female; Adult; Young Adult; Visual Acuity; Psychophysics; Motion Perception; Contrast Sensitivity; Eye Movements
PubMed: 38700875
DOI: 10.1167/iovs.65.5.7 -
Canadian Journal of Public Health =... Apr 2024To assess the effectiveness of a kindergarten vision screening program by randomly assigning schools to receive or not receive vision screening, then following up...
Continued care and provision of glasses are necessary to improve visual and academic outcomes in children: Experience from a cluster-randomized controlled trial of school-based vision screening.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the effectiveness of a kindergarten vision screening program by randomly assigning schools to receive or not receive vision screening, then following up 1.5 years later.
METHODS
Fifty high-needs elementary schools were randomly assigned to participate or not in a vision screening program for children in senior kindergarten (SK; age 5‒6 years). When the children were in Grade 2 (age 6‒7 years), vision screening was conducted at all 50 schools.
RESULTS
Contrary to expectations, screened and non-screened schools did not differ in the prevalence of suspected amblyopia in Grade 2 (8.6% vs. 7.5%, p = 0.10), nor prevalence of other visual problems such as astigmatism (45.1% vs. 47.1%, p = 0.51). There was also no difference between screened and non-screened schools in academic outcomes such as the proportion of children below grade level in reading (33% vs. 29%) or math (44% vs. 38%) (p = 0.86). However, more children were wearing glasses in screened than in non-screened schools (10.2% vs. 7.8%, p = 0.05), and more children reported their glasses as missing or broken (8.3% vs. 4.7%, p = 0.01), suggesting that SK screening had identified successfully those in need of glasses. Examination of individual results revealed that 72% of children diagnosed and treated for amblyopia in SK no longer had amblyopia in Grade 2.
CONCLUSION
The prevalence of amblyopia and other visual problems was not reduced in Grade 2 by our SK vision screening program, perhaps because of poor treatment compliance and high attrition. The results suggest that a single screening intervention is insufficient to reduce visual problems among young children. However, the data from individuals with amblyopia suggest that continuing vision care and access to glasses benefits children, especially children from lower socioeconomic class.
PubMed: 38691337
DOI: 10.17269/s41997-024-00884-8 -
Frontiers in Neuroscience 2024
PubMed: 38686333
DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2024.1396011 -
EClinicalMedicine Apr 2024Amblyopia is a common neurodevelopmental condition and leading cause of childhood visual impairment. Given the known association between neurodevelopmental impairment...
BACKGROUND
Amblyopia is a common neurodevelopmental condition and leading cause of childhood visual impairment. Given the known association between neurodevelopmental impairment and cardiometabolic dysfunction in later life, we investigated whether children with amblyopia have increased risk of cardiometabolic disorders in adult life.
METHODS
This was a cross-sectional and longitudinal analysis of 126,399 United Kingdom Biobank cohort participants who underwent ocular examination. A subset of 67,321 of these received retinal imaging. Data analysis was conducted between November 1st 2021 and October 15th 2022. Our primary objective was to investigate the association between amblyopia and a number of components of metabolic syndrome and individual cardiometabolic diseases. Childhood amblyopia, dichotomised as or by adulthood, cardiometabolic disease and mortality were defined using ophthalmic assessment, self-reported, hospital admissions and death records. Morphological features of the optic nerve and retinal vasculature and sublayers were extracted from retinal photography and optical coherence tomography. Associations between amblyopia and cardiometabolic disorders as well as retinal markers were investigated in multivariable-adjusted regression models.
FINDINGS
Individuals with persisting amblyopia (n = 2647) were more likely to be obese (adjusted odds ratio (95% confidence interval): 1.16 (1.05; 1.28)), hypertensive (1.25 (1.13; 1.38)) and diabetic (1.29 (1.04; 1.59)) than individuals without amblyopia (controls, (n = 18,481)). Amblyopia was also associated with an increased risk of myocardial infarction (adjusted hazard ratio: 1.38 (1.11; 1.72)) and death (1.36 (1.15; 1.60)). On retinal imaging, amblyopic eyes had significantly increased venular caliber (0.29 units (0.21; 0.36)), increased tortuosity (0.11 units (0.03; 0.19)), but lower fractal dimension (-0.23 units (-0.30; -0.16)) and thinner ganglion cell-inner plexiform layer (mGC-IPL, -2.85 microns (-3.47; -2.22)). Unaffected fellow eyes of individuals with amblyopia also had significantly lower retinal fractal dimension (-0.08 units (-0.15; -0.01)) and thinner mGC-IPL (-1.14 microns (-1.74; -0.54)). Amblyopic eyes with a persisting visual deficit had smaller optic nerve disc height (-0.17 units (-0.25; -0.08)) and width (-0.13 units (-0.21; -0.04)) compared to control eyes.
INTERPRETATION
Although further research is needed to understand the basis of the observed associations, healthcare professionals should be cognisant of greater cardiometabolic dysfunction in adults who had childhood amblyopia. Differences in retinal features in both the amblyopic eye and the unaffected non-amblyopic suggest generalised versus local processes.
FUNDING
Medical Research Council (MR/T000953/1) and the National Institute for Health and Care Research.
PubMed: 38685932
DOI: 10.1016/j.eclinm.2024.102493 -
Optometry and Vision Science : Official... Apr 2024Results of this study provide preliminary data on parent strategies for improving compliance with eyeglass treatment in young children, an age group for which previous... (Comparative Study)
Comparative Study
SIGNIFICANCE
Results of this study provide preliminary data on parent strategies for improving compliance with eyeglass treatment in young children, an age group for which previous data are limited. Parent responses provide important insights to support parents of young children who wear eyeglasses and provide preliminary data to guide additional research.
PURPOSE
The goal of this exploratory study was to learn more about parents' strategies to improve compliance with eyeglass treatment of young children.
METHODS
An online survey of parents of 1-year-old to less than 5-year-old children who wear eyeglasses was conducted. Parents indicated whether they used various strategies to encourage wear and were asked to provide advice for parents of young children recently prescribed eyeglasses. Use of various strategies by age was determined. Open-ended responses regarding advice for other parents were analyzed using qualitative content analysis.
RESULTS
The final sample included 104 parents who were predominantly White (81%), non-Hispanic (76%), and college graduates (68%). During the 2 weeks prior to survey completion, 74% of parents reported their child wore their eyeglasses ≥8 hours/day. Use of strategies for improving eyeglass wear varied by child age. The most frequent recommendations that parents provided for other parents were to be consistent in encouraging wear, use social modeling, provide positive reinforcement when the eyeglasses are worn, and ensure that the eyeglasses fit well and were comfortable.
CONCLUSIONS
Parents provided many useful insights into their experiences. However, results may not be broadly generalizable, because of the limited diversity and high rate of compliance in the study sample. Further research with more diverse populations and research on effectiveness of various strategies to increase compliance in this age group are recommended to support eyeglass treatment compliance in young children.
Topics: Humans; Eyeglasses; Child, Preschool; Female; Parents; Male; Patient Compliance; Infant; Surveys and Questionnaires; Amblyopia; Adult
PubMed: 38684061
DOI: 10.1097/OPX.0000000000002123 -
Ophthalmic & Physiological Optics : the... Jul 2024Previous research highlights the adverse effects of visual impairment (VI) on academic achievement in children, yet its impact on cognitive performance among adolescents...
PURPOSE
Previous research highlights the adverse effects of visual impairment (VI) on academic achievement in children, yet its impact on cognitive performance among adolescents and young adults remains under-studied. Therefore, this investigation aimed to analyse this association in a nationwide sample of Israeli adolescents.
METHODS
A retrospective population-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 1,410,616 Israeli-born adolescents aged 16-19 years, who were assessed before mandatory military service between 1993 and 2017. The definition of VI was based on best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) measurements using a standard Snellen chart. Adolescents with BCVA worse than 6/9 in either or both eyes were classified as having unilateral or bilateral VI, respectively. Cognitive performance was measured using the General Intelligence Score (GIS), based on a validated four-domain test. Relationships were analysed using regression models yielding adjusted odds ratios (ORs) for low (<-1 standard deviation [SD]) and high (≥1 SD) cognitive Z-scores.
RESULTS
Of 1,410,616 adolescents (56.1% men), 13,773 (1.0%) had unilateral and 3980 (0.3%) had bilateral VI. Unilateral VI was associated with adjusted ORs for low and high cognitive Z-scores of 1.24 (1.19-1.30) and 0.84 (0.80-0.89), respectively. ORs were accentuated for bilateral VI, reaching 1.62 (1.50-1.75) and 0.81 (0.74-0.90) for low and high cognitive Z-scores, respectively. Cognitive performance subscores mirrored these results, with the visual-spatial functioning subtest demonstrating the greatest effect size. These associations persisted in sub-analyses restricted to adolescents with amblyopia-related VI, mild VI and unimpaired health status.
CONCLUSIONS
Visual impairment, including mild and unilateral cases, is associated with reduced cognitive performance scores assessed in late adolescence. Further research is required to gain a comprehensive understanding of the dynamics underlying this relationship.
Topics: Humans; Adolescent; Male; Female; Cross-Sectional Studies; Visual Acuity; Vision Disorders; Retrospective Studies; Young Adult; Cognition; Israel
PubMed: 38682438
DOI: 10.1111/opo.13323 -
Children (Basel, Switzerland) Mar 2024The purpose of this study was to develop a new pediatric acuity chart that can assess the minimum separation threshold by incorporating the minimum separation threshold...
The purpose of this study was to develop a new pediatric acuity chart that can assess the minimum separation threshold by incorporating the minimum separation threshold into the picture. To overcome the design limitations of the Landolt ring, two designs of highly versatile minimum separable thresholds that can be easily incorporated into a picture were created: a black, filled circle (the "Circle") and a segment (the "Square"), both with the same break as in the Landolt ring. The three designs-the Landolt ring, Circle, and Square-were used to evaluate and compare the differences in the visual acuity of 21 healthy adults. No significant differences were observed between the results of the visual acuity tested with the Landolt ring, Circle, and Square (Landolt ring vs. Circle: = 0.92, Landolt ring vs. Square: = 0.31, Circle vs. Square: = 0.40). The Bland-Altman analysis revealed no fixed errors between the Landolt ring and Circle and between the Landolt ring and Square (95% CI: -0.09-0.08, -0.09-0.12). Proportional errors were also not observed ( = 0.68, = 0.41). The Landolt ring, Circle, and Square designs obtained equal results in visual acuity, thus achieving the successful development of a novel pediatric visual acuity chart using these designs.
PubMed: 38671614
DOI: 10.3390/children11040397