Institution at Your Home: Treat Amblyopia

Chowdhury S, Srivastava M and Chowdhury N

Published on: 2019-08-12

Abstract

Aim: Amblyopia is decreased vision consequent to abnormal visual experience like strabismus, stimulus deprivation or anisometropia leading to physiological alterations in visual cortex. In infants and children it has been successfully treated by occlusion. But, in adults it is still regarded has untreatable. Our aim is to study the effects of perceptual learning in treating amblyopia through home based spectacle mounted synoptophore (SMS).

Methods: Spectacle based synoptophore was designed with locally available “bio-scope” toys mounted on a trial frame, fitted with LED lights for alternate flashing and sound producing chip. 10 amblyopic patients aged from 10- 40 years were given SMS with sound chip for use at home for 4 weeks and results were compared with 10 amblyopic patients exercising on similar miniature SMS not fitted with sound chip.

Outcome measures: Compliance with treatment, Performance ratio.

Results: Compliance ratio excellent in both groups. Performance ratio comparable in both groups with slightly better performance in Group A.

Conclusion: SMS can improve the visual outcome in amblyopes through perceptual learning using contextual senses like sound. This can be useful for treating amblyopia in adults.