Quality of Life of Children Treated With Occlusion Therapy for Amblyopia

Abstract

Abstract: : Purpose: To evaluate the quality of life of children treated with occlusion therapy for amblyopia and its correlation with adherence. Methods: Between July 2001 and December 2003 all newly diagnosed amblyopic children were recruited in The Hague. Quality of life was measured using the Felius and Birch Children's Visual Function Questionnaire. This questionnaire was constructed for children younger than 3 years of age (50 items) and older than 3 years (55 items) and contained six subscales. The parents were asked to fill out the questionnaire within the first 4 months of therapy. The internal consistency of the different subscales was determined using Cronbach's α. Adherence was measured electronically by means of the Occlusion Dose Monitor. Results: 303 children were included in the study, parents of 284 children filled out the questionnaire (94%). 31 children were younger than 3 years (mean age 1.5 SD 0.8). Amblyopia was caused by strabismus (n=24), anisometropia (n=3), mixed (n=3) and cataract (n=1). Reliability analysis demonstrated subscales associated with general health and competence (α>0.7). Average adherence was 71%. 253 parents completed the questionnaire for children older than 3 years (mean age 5.0 SD 1.7). Amblyopia was associated with strabismus (n=52), anisometropia (n=149), mixed (n=34), cataract (n=2) or other amblyogenic factors (n=16). The data from the children older than 3 years of age showed subscales associated with competence, personality and treatment (α>0.7). Average adherence was 69%; the subscale associated with 'treatment' was correlated to the level of adherence (p<0.01). Conclusions: These questionnaires are useful tools to measure health related quality of life of children treated with occlusion therapy for amblyopia. The questionnaires seem to be sensitive enough to discern differences in adherence to therapy.

Keywords: amblyopia • quality of life