Purpose: To compare macular thickness in children with functional AMBLYOPIA and those without AMBLYOPIA using optical coherence tomography (OCT).Methods: This case‑control study was conducted on 93 children aged 3–10 years including 44 cases with unilateral AMBLYOPIA and 49 subjects without AMBLYOPIA. Amblyopic eyes were considered as the case group and their fellow eyes as internal controls; eyes of non‑amblyopic children served as the external control.Macular thickness of all eyes were measured by optical coherence tomography in the center (foveola), 1 mm ring (fovea), and 3 and 6 mm rings and compared.Results: Although macular thickness was generally not different between the study groups, there was a significant difference in central macular thickness between eyes with moderate to severe AMBLYOPIA and the external controls (P=0.037). Foveal thickness difference exceeding 10 microns between fellow eyes was detected in a larger number of amblyopic children as compared to non‑amblyopic controls (P=0.002). Mean foveal thickness was greater in boys (P=0.037) but there was no significant difference in foveal thickness among various types of refractive errors.Conclusion: Although there was no significant relationship between macular thickness and AMBLYOPIA, foveolar thickness in eyes with moderate to severe AMBLYOPIA was significantly greater than the external controls. Further studies with more cases of moderate to severe AMBLYOPIA are recommended.

Background and Aim: National screening program on AMBLYOPIA in preschool-aged children is one of the current health programs in Iran. The present study aimed to evaluate the process of visual therapy and its effectiveness in amblyopic children detected in this program.Materials and Methods: In the current study, all optometric centers in Mashhad city as referral centers in the national program were visited to collect information and documentations regarding children with AMBLYOPIA diagnosed in 2012. Informed consent of parents was acquired and then they were interviewed. Also, visual acuity and refractive error of children was measured. From among 168 children with AMBLYOPIA diagnosed in 2012, 71 could be accessed through their files.Results: From among 66 parents who agreed to participate, 58 (88% (had been informed of the importance of early intervention by optometrists, and 57 (87% (had 1 to 4 follow-up visits during the first year after diagnosis and commencement of intervention, through which their visual acuity and refractive error status were documented.However, none were checked for any effect of treatment on daily activities and quality of life. About 63.6% of parents had received counseling from optometrists regarding solving problems of compliance with treatment. About 90% of the files contained no documentation whatsoever on efforts to provide parental awareness, as well as to monitor or guide parents for solving compliance problems. Within a year from the beginning of therapy 66.6% of children completely recovered and 10.6% partially recovered from AMBLYOPIA. Visual acuity was not changed in the other children (22.8%) Discussion: In the absence of guidelines and obligations for documentation of patient information, a considerable portion of children diagnosed to have AMBLYOPIA were missed for further follow-up. Designing therapeutic guidelines and frameworks may help increase program coverage, especially in terms of parental awareness and alleviation of compliance problems.

AMBLYOPIA (lazy eye) is one of the significant complications of strabismus surgery. It is the most important cause of unilateral visual impairment in both children and adults. The current investigation was achieved to determine the postoperative AMBLYOPIA rate and to identify factors predisposing to AMBLYOPIA following exotropia surgery among patients who had been referred to Imam Khomeini Hospital in Urmia, Iran. The present investigation is a retrospective study that was conducted over three years (2008-2010). The study consisted of sixty patients who underwent their first strabismus surgery for treatment of horizontal deviation. Patients were followed up for at least 24 months, and the rate of postoperative AMBLYOPIA was measured. The preoperative deviation, strabismus type (exotropia vs. esotropia), visual acuity, age at surgery, and the number of operated muscles were analyzed as determining factors of postoperative development of AMBLYOPIA. AMBLYOPIA was observed in 50% of cases during the follow-up period. No statistically significant differences were observed between amblyopic and non-amblyopic eyes in terms of sex, age at surgery, strabismus type, and visual acuity. But amblyopic eyes showed higher deviation angles compared to non-amblyopic eyes (<0. 001). The Cox hazard model analysis revealed a significant contribution of deviation angle to postoperative development of AMBLYOPIA. A larger deviation angle has been identified as a positive predictor of postoperative development of AMBLYOPIA in our investigated population. Due to such a high rate of postoperative AMBLYOPIA, it seems better to initiate and complete AMBLYOPIA therapy before strabismus surgery.

Background & Objective: The nationwide AMBLYOPIA prevention program is performed by prevention deputy of welfare organization every year. In this analytic report practical results of screening program in 1998-2001 were presented and compared with similar findings in other countries. The results were also compared with the findings of previous similar researches in Iran.Methods: The AMBLYOPIA screening program was performed on all 3-65 year-old children in day-care centers as well as those referring to the visual acuity measuring centers. The first examination was accomplished by trainers. In the second step doubtful cases were referred to optometrist by trainers and AMBLYOPIA was diagnosed by an optometrist and confirmed by an eye specialist after excluding organic causes.Results: 608 out of 8427(7.21%) children examined by trainers in 2001 were referred to an optometrist because of suspected visual disorders. The prevalence of AMBLYOPIA in different cities of Ardabil province was 2%-15%. The figures in 2000-2001 were 10% (Rangs=1%-13%), respectively. In 1998 it was 11% (Range =5%-13%). In the second phase of AMBLYOPIA plan the prevalence of visual problems was estimated about 21%, 45%, 47%, and 74% in 1998-2001, respectively. In the third phase of the plan the AMBLYOPIA prevalence for children examined by eye-specialist in 1999-2001 were 1.6%, 1.41% and 1.25% respectively.Conclusions: In this research the prevalence of AMBLYOPIA was found to be 1.42% which has a conformity with the findings of other countries. Moreover, the higher variation in the estimation of the prevalence of visual disorders in this province requires further comparative researches.

Introduction: to identify the pattern-reversal visual evoked potential (PRVEP) waveform descriptor by evaluating discrete wavelet transform (DWT) in order to optimize stimulus in the diagnosis of anisometropia AMBLYOPIA. Materials and Methods: The PRVEP testing was performed for 31 normal individuals and 35 patients with AMBLYOPIA. The stimuli were consisted of spatial frequencies of 1, 2, and 4 cycles per degree (cpd) and contrast levels of 100%, 50%, 25%, and 5%. The results were analyzed in the dimensions of time and time-frequency. DWT descriptor were extracted at level 7 (7P descriptor) for Haar, Daubechies 2, Daubechies 4, Symlet 5, Biorthogonal 3. 5, Biorthogonal 4. 4, and Coiflet 5 wavelets for 12 stimuli and compared between the two groups. The correlation between different spatial frequencies at the same contrast level and the similarities between reconstructed signals and original waveforms were evaluated. Results: There were a significant reduction in P100 amplitude and a significant elevation in latency among the patient group. In the patients with AMBLYOPIA, 7P descriptor decreased in all analysis except for the frequency of 4 cpd and the contrast of 5% using bior4. 4. No significant correlation was observed between different frequencies at a special contrast; however, there was a significant correlation between reconstructed signals and the original ones. Conclusion: The 7P descriptor could be used to distinguish between normal and abnormal signals in anisometropia AMBLYOPIA. Considering the results, DWT with coif5, db4, bior4. 4, and bior3. 5 wavelets can be utilized as a good indicator for selecting optimum stimulus.

Introduction: AMBLYOPIA is defined as the loss of visual acuity in one or both eyes, without any obvious organic cause. The aim of this study is to compare the prevalance of AMBLYOPIA between the students who had been examined before school age and students who did not examine (control group).Methods: in total 1211 boys and girls students in middle school (573 students in grade 1 and 638 students in grade 3) were randomly examined in different area (North, South, East and West) of region 5 of Mashhad education.The examination included visual acuity, refractive error, and eye deviation. Visual acuity was measured using a Snellen E chart for use at 6m. A Hine Retinoscope performed cycloplegic refraction. with distance subjective retraction by oculus trial lenses.Results: the students age range was from 11to 17years with mean of 12.8 years old. The prevalance of AMBLYOPIA was 1.92% in grade 1 students (who examined before school age) and 1.41% in grade 3 students of middle school (control group who did not examine before school age). The chi-square statistic was used to compare the prevalance of AMBLYOPIA between two groups of students in grade 1 and 3. It was not statistically significant (X2= 0.034, p= 0.54). The chi square statistic was also used to test relationship among AMBLYOPIA, type of retractive errors and previous family history. The relationships were found to be highly statistically  significant (X2= 100.3, p= 0.00, X2 =178.2, p=0.00).Conclusion: preschool age is critical period of development for visual system. However, the prevalance of AMBLYOPIA between two groups of students in grade 1 and 3 of middle school was nearly the same. This indicates that the preschool vision screening for AMBLYOPIA was not effective and useful in region 5 of Mashhad education.

Purpose: To evaluate the effect of patch therapyon visual acuity in adults with ametropic AMBLYOPIA.Methods: This randomized clinical trial was performed on 66 patients with unilateral ametropic AMBLYOPIA aged 9 to 35 years referred to a clinic in Shahroud. The patients were randomly assigned to two groups. In the treatment group, based on the visual acuity of the amblyopic eye, 3-6 hours daily patching of the sound eye with an eye pad was prescribed; no patching was performed in the control group. Visual acuities of both eyes were compared between the two groups before and 3 and 6 months after patch therapy.Results: Mean age of patients was 16±4.6 years in the treatment group and 17.2±7.1 years in the control group (P=0.42). Mean visual acuity was 0.39±0.17 LogMAR before patch therapy which increased to 0.19±0.09 LogMAR after 3 months and 0.07±0.03 LogMAR after 6 months in the treatment group (P<0.001). There was no significant change in mean visual acuity of the control group during the same period. There was no significant difference between mean visual acuity of the treatment group based on duration of daily patching.Conclusion: This study revealed that patch therapy on the sound eye can improve visual acuity in amblyopiceye in adults and that age is not an obstacle for this promotion. Therefore, use of patch therapy is recommended for rehabilitation of adults with ametropic AMBLYOPIA.

Background: One of the most dramatic sensory ocular anomalies is the low visual acuity of one eye known as AMBLYOPIA. The goal of preschool vision screening is to detect children with AMBLYOPIA. Stereopsis is an important indicator of the state of binocularity. Previous studies showed a disagreement on the reliability of stereo tests as screening tools for AMBLYOPIA. This study was performed to compare visual acuity testing with the ability of TNO, Titmus and Randot stereo tests for detection of AMBLYOPIA.Methods: A total of 1000 pupils, aged 6-12 years were examined in a field study in Shiraz. In addition to the 3 stereo tests of TNO, Titmus and Randot, the examination included visual acuity, cover testing and inspection of red reflex. According to definite fail pass criteria, abnormal cases were referred to pediatric eye clinic for complete eye physical examination. Similar to the first part, in the second part of the study, 100 amblyopic students aged 6-12 years, were referred to pediatric eye clinic for complete physical examination. Sensitivity and specificity of each stereo test for detection of AMBLYOPIA was calculated. Results: In screening situation, the sensitivity of stereo tests was 55.5% for TNO with a cutoff point of 240", 48.8% for Titmus with a cutoff point of 70" and 44.4% for Randot stereo test with cutoff point of 100". Specificity of these tests in screening situation was 86.9%, 94.4%, and 98.4% respectively. The respective sensitivity of these stereo tests in clinical situation was 74%, 68%, and 62%. Conclusion: Considering these fail-pass criteria, none of the TNO, Titmus, and Randot stereo tests can be recommended as a screening method for detection of AMBLYOPIA in children.