AIM: To study the pattern of amblyopia and factors responsible for treatment outcome in Nepalese children.

METHODS: It was a hospital based retrospective study. The medical records of 257 children registered from June 2009 to June 2011 with the diagnosis of amblyopia were reviewed retrospectively. Types of amblyopia studied were anisometropic, isoametropic, strabismic and the mixed amblyopia. Children with isoametropic amblyopia were treated with glass alone, strabismic amblyopia with patching of 6 hours a day, anisometropic and mixed amblyopes were given patching and optical correction both according to the need. The main outcome measure was the visual acuity at the end of treatment. The age at presentation, type of amblyopia, initial visual acuity, type and severity of refractive error, were the factors analyzed for their effect on final visual outcome.

RESULTS: The mean age of children was(7.96±3.093)years with the age range from 3 to 15 years. Isoametropic amblyopia was the most common type(35.8%), followed by the strabismic amblyopia(31.9%), anisometropic(23.0%)and the mixed type(9.3%). The mean final visual outcome was better in isoametropic amblyopia(LogMAR 0.295±0.25)than in other types(P=0.001). There was no significant correlation between the visual acuity outcome and the age at presentation(P=0.98), type and severity of refractive error(P=0.12). However the presenting visual acuity had a significant correlation with the final visual outcome(P=0.00).

CONCLUSION: Isoametropic amblyopia was the most common type of amblyopia and with the best visual outcome. The initial visual acuity was the most important factor determining success of amblyopia treatment.