Early versus late detection of amblyopia: a retrospective cohort study
Research type
Research Study
Full title
The effect of age at diagnosis on final visual acuity outcome for unilateral anisometropic, strabismic or mixed anisometropic-strabismic amblyopia: a retrospective cohort study
IRAS ID
254131
Contact name
Daniel Osborne
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 11 months, days
Research summary
Currently, Public Health England recommend all children are screened for lazy eye (amblyopia) in school, through an orthoptic-led screening programme, at age 4 or 5 years. Amblyopia is characterised by a reduced ability to resolve small letters on a standard visual acuity test; to pass the screening one must achieve a visual acuity measurement of 0.20 logMAR or better. School children not achieving this level are referred to a local eye department for specialist opinion, diagnosis and management from orthoptists, optometrists and ophthalmologists.
There is some evidence to show that the best visual acuity outcomes are achieved when therapy is started earlier. There is strong evidence to show that, although therapy is effective in an over 7-years of age population, it is more effective if started within the first 7 years of life.
In Southampton two screening programmes run:
1. Pre-school vision screening screens all children with a family history of eye disease and/or parental or professional (GP or health visitor) concern regarding an eye disease at age 18 months to 3 years.
2. School screening screens all children in school as per the PHE recommendation outlined above.With this study, we plan to retrospectively identify all patients from the two screening programmes and compare visual acuity outcomes at the time they completed their amblyopia therapy.
REC name
London - City & East Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
18/LO/2037
Date of REC Opinion
13 Nov 2018
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion