Characterization of Refractive Amblyopia

Abstract

Objective: To relate the type and depth of amblyopia with the type and magnitude of refractive error.

Methods: Cross-sectional study carried out in 27 patients aged 5-18 years with refractive amblyopia first treated in the pediatric ophthalmology and strabismus consultation of Ramón Pando Ferrer Cuban Institute of Ophthalmology. Results: The age at which the patients were first examined was similar in both types of amblyopia, but slightly higher in anisometropic amblyopia (mean of 8 years). A significant correlation was found between the depth of amblyopia and the magnitude of the refractive error in the right eye (P=0.001), not being so in the left eye (P=0.304). 

Conclusions: In the study group, the age at which they are examined is considered late and there are no differences in gender or skin color. There is a slight predominance of isometropic amblyopia over anisometropic amblyopia, with a predominance of the left eye in anisometropic amblyopia. The refractive error most frequently associated with refractive amblyopia is against-the-rule astigmatism. As the magnitude of the refractive error increases, the depth of amblyopia increases in the right eye, but not in the left eye.