Late Ophthalmologic Referral of Anisometropic Amblyopia: A Retrospective Study of Different Amblyopia Subtypes

Introduction: Amblyopia requires a timely diagnosis and treatment to attain maximum vision recovery. Specialty literature is lacking on how early amblyopia is referred. We aimed to understand if there are mean age differences at first referral for ophthalmologic tertiary center consultation among no...

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Main Authors: Maria João Vieira, Sandra Viegas Guimarães, Patrício Costa, Eduardo Silva
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Ordem dos Médicos 2019-03-01
Series:Acta Médica Portuguesa
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.actamedicaportuguesa.com/revista/index.php/amp/article/view/10623
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author Maria João Vieira
Sandra Viegas Guimarães
Patrício Costa
Eduardo Silva
author_facet Maria João Vieira
Sandra Viegas Guimarães
Patrício Costa
Eduardo Silva
author_sort Maria João Vieira
collection DOAJ
description Introduction: Amblyopia requires a timely diagnosis and treatment to attain maximum vision recovery. Specialty literature is lacking on how early amblyopia is referred. We aimed to understand if there are mean age differences at first referral for ophthalmologic tertiary center consultation among non-amblyopic and different types of amblyopia, in a context of lack of population screening. Material and Methods: In this retrospective model, the sample corresponded to all children born in Braga Hospital during 1997 - 2012 (3 - 18 years-old), with an ophthalmologic consultation in 2014. Data was collected from the clinical records and children were divided in a non-amblyopic versus amblyopic group. The amblyopic group was subdivided in strabismic versus refractive (anisometropic/bilateral). Results: The sample had a total of 1665 participants, 1369 (82.2%) without amblyopia and 296 (17.8%) with amblyopia. Among amblyopia: 67.9% (n = 201) refractive, 32.1% (n = 95) strabismic. Within refractive amblyopia: 63.7% (n = 128) anisometropic and 36.3% (n = 73) bilateral. The mean age at first consultation was 6.24 ± 3.90 years-old: 6.39 ± 3.98 for non-amblyopic and 5.76 ± 3.58 for amblyopic. Among amblyopia subgroups, there were significant differences in mean age at first consultation (F3,1250 = 8.45; p < 0.001; η2 = 0.020). Strabismic and bilateral refractive amblyopia were referred earlier, when compared to non-amblyopia or anisometropic amblyopia (p < 0.05). Anisometropic amblyopia had the highest first consultation mean age: 6.92 ± 3.57 years-old. Discussion: Without specific pre-school screening, children with amblyopia were referred to their first ophthalmologic evaluation significantly later than desired, especially anisometropic amblyopia, with a postschool mean age for first consultation. Conclusion: Recognizing high-risk children is essential for earlier referral and helps minimize future visual handicap.
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spelling doaj.art-72ac6beab3e44cd782801f5a871833572022-12-21T23:25:55ZengOrdem dos MédicosActa Médica Portuguesa0870-399X1646-07582019-03-0132317918210.20344/amp.106234838Late Ophthalmologic Referral of Anisometropic Amblyopia: A Retrospective Study of Different Amblyopia SubtypesMaria João Vieira0Sandra Viegas Guimarães1Patrício Costa2Eduardo Silva3School of Medicine, University of Minho, School of Medicine. University of Minho. Braga. Department of Ophthalmology. Hospital de Santo André. Centro Hospitalar de Leiria. Leiria.Life and Health Sciences Research Institute. School of Medicine. University of Minho. Braga. ICVS/3Bs. PT Government Associate Laboratory. Braga/Guimarães. Department of Ophthalmology. Hospital de Braga. Braga.Life and Health Sciences Research Institute. School of Medicine. University of Minho. Braga. ICVS/3Bs. PT Government Associate Laboratory. Braga/Guimarães. Clinical Academic Center-Braga. Braga.Centro Cirúrgico de Coimbra. Coimbra. IBILI. Faculty of Medicine. University of Coimbra. Coimbra. Department of Ophthalmology. Centro Hospitalar Lisboa Norte. Lisbon.Introduction: Amblyopia requires a timely diagnosis and treatment to attain maximum vision recovery. Specialty literature is lacking on how early amblyopia is referred. We aimed to understand if there are mean age differences at first referral for ophthalmologic tertiary center consultation among non-amblyopic and different types of amblyopia, in a context of lack of population screening. Material and Methods: In this retrospective model, the sample corresponded to all children born in Braga Hospital during 1997 - 2012 (3 - 18 years-old), with an ophthalmologic consultation in 2014. Data was collected from the clinical records and children were divided in a non-amblyopic versus amblyopic group. The amblyopic group was subdivided in strabismic versus refractive (anisometropic/bilateral). Results: The sample had a total of 1665 participants, 1369 (82.2%) without amblyopia and 296 (17.8%) with amblyopia. Among amblyopia: 67.9% (n = 201) refractive, 32.1% (n = 95) strabismic. Within refractive amblyopia: 63.7% (n = 128) anisometropic and 36.3% (n = 73) bilateral. The mean age at first consultation was 6.24 ± 3.90 years-old: 6.39 ± 3.98 for non-amblyopic and 5.76 ± 3.58 for amblyopic. Among amblyopia subgroups, there were significant differences in mean age at first consultation (F3,1250 = 8.45; p < 0.001; η2 = 0.020). Strabismic and bilateral refractive amblyopia were referred earlier, when compared to non-amblyopia or anisometropic amblyopia (p < 0.05). Anisometropic amblyopia had the highest first consultation mean age: 6.92 ± 3.57 years-old. Discussion: Without specific pre-school screening, children with amblyopia were referred to their first ophthalmologic evaluation significantly later than desired, especially anisometropic amblyopia, with a postschool mean age for first consultation. Conclusion: Recognizing high-risk children is essential for earlier referral and helps minimize future visual handicap.https://www.actamedicaportuguesa.com/revista/index.php/amp/article/view/10623Amblyopia/epidemiologyAnisometropia/epidemiology
spellingShingle Maria João Vieira
Sandra Viegas Guimarães
Patrício Costa
Eduardo Silva
Late Ophthalmologic Referral of Anisometropic Amblyopia: A Retrospective Study of Different Amblyopia Subtypes
Acta Médica Portuguesa
Amblyopia/epidemiology
Anisometropia/epidemiology
title Late Ophthalmologic Referral of Anisometropic Amblyopia: A Retrospective Study of Different Amblyopia Subtypes
title_full Late Ophthalmologic Referral of Anisometropic Amblyopia: A Retrospective Study of Different Amblyopia Subtypes
title_fullStr Late Ophthalmologic Referral of Anisometropic Amblyopia: A Retrospective Study of Different Amblyopia Subtypes
title_full_unstemmed Late Ophthalmologic Referral of Anisometropic Amblyopia: A Retrospective Study of Different Amblyopia Subtypes
title_short Late Ophthalmologic Referral of Anisometropic Amblyopia: A Retrospective Study of Different Amblyopia Subtypes
title_sort late ophthalmologic referral of anisometropic amblyopia a retrospective study of different amblyopia subtypes
topic Amblyopia/epidemiology
Anisometropia/epidemiology
url https://www.actamedicaportuguesa.com/revista/index.php/amp/article/view/10623
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