Effectiveness of early in
comparison to late(r) treatment in children with amblyopia or its risk factors:
a systematic review.
(Efficacité du traitement précoce versus le traitement tardif de l'amblyopie ou
ses facteurs de risque : une revue générale de la littérature)
Schmucker C, Kleijnen J,
Grosselfinger R, Riemsma R, Antes G, Lange S, Lagrèze W.
German Cochrane Center, Institute of Medical Biometry and Medical
Informatics, Department of Medical Biometry and Statistics, University Hospital
Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany.
schmucker@cochrane.de
PURPOSE: To evaluate the effectiveness of early in comparison to late(r) treatment in children with (1) amblyopia or (2) its risk factors, such as refractive errors and strabismus.
METHODS: Eight
bibliographic databases were searched with no limitation to a specific year of
publication or language. Studies including children and juveniles with amblyopia
or its risk factors were considered for this review.
RESULTS: In total, five studies (three direct comparisons within one
study; one indirect comparison between two studies) met the inclusion criteria.
(1) Treatment of amblyopia: one comparison suggested that amblyopia treatment in
preschool children is more effective than treatment later in life. However, a
subgroup analysis of children who have never received any treatment indicated
that patching may also have an effect after the "sensitive phase." The second
comparison showed that a delay in treatment until the age of 5 did not seem to
influence effectiveness. (2) Treatment of amblyogenic risk factors: two
comparisons showed that hyperopia treatment and strabismus surgery (outcome:
remaining amblyopia) is more effective under 2 years of age than later in life.
However, the studies showed methodological weaknesses (for example, a high loss
to follow-up, unmasked outcome assessments) limiting the validity of their
findings. The current literature does not provide data evaluating quality of
life or school performance.
CONCLUSIONS: Uncertainties remain about the age at which treatment for
amblyopia or its risk factors is most effective. Beside methodological
limitations, the design of the studies made it challenging to address this
question sufficiently.
Retour à la bibliographie de Janvier 2010
(Dernière mise à jour de cette page le 27/08/10)