June 2021
Volume 62, Issue 8
Open Access
ARVO Annual Meeting Abstract  |   June 2021
Crowding effect in children with and without amblyopia
Author Affiliations & Notes
  • Kristine Kalnica-Dorosenko
    Eye Diseases Clinic, Bernu kliniska universitates slimnica, Riga, Riga, Latvia
    Department of Optometry and Vision Science, Latvijas Universitate Fizikas matematikas un optometrijas fakultate, Riga, Latvia
  • Aiga Svede
    Department of Optometry and Vision Science, Latvijas Universitate Fizikas matematikas un optometrijas fakultate, Riga, Latvia
  • Footnotes
    Commercial Relationships   Kristine Kalnica-Dorosenko, None; Aiga Svede, None
  • Footnotes
    Support  None
Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science June 2021, Vol.62, 134. doi:
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      Kristine Kalnica-Dorosenko, Aiga Svede; Crowding effect in children with and without amblyopia. Invest. Ophthalmol. Vis. Sci. 2021;62(8):134.

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      © ARVO (1962-2015); The Authors (2016-present)

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Abstract

Purpose : Amblyopia - reduction of visual acuity in one or both eyes, caused by abnormal binocular interaction during the critical period of visual development. One of the most used classifications of amblyopia is related to visual acuity. Amblyopia is most often associated with early onset strabismus, anisometropia or combined (strabismic anisometropic amblyopia). The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of crowding and age on visual acuity in a sample of young children with and without amblyopia.

Methods : A total of 200 participants (3-9 years old) whose visual acuity was tested monocularly, using the entire open optotype line, isolating one optotype line and separating each optotype separately, participated. The results were analysed in four groups: children with and without amblyopia (younger (3 to 6 years) and older (7 to 9 years)).

Results : In the younger (3 to 6 years) group of children with strabismic and anisometropic amblyopia, the crowding effect was observed (p < 0.05) by checking visual acuity (with amblyopic and health eye) isolating the optotype line and showing the optotypes separately, but in the older (7 to 9 years) group the crowding effect was not observed (p > 0.05). In the younger (3 to 6 years) and older (7 to 9 years) groups of children without amblyopia, the crowding effect was not observed (p > 0.05) by checking visual acuity isolating the optotype line but was observed (p < 0.05) by showing the optotypes separately.

Conclusions : Young amblyopic patients up to 7 years old have better visual acuity readings from a single optotype or isolating one optotype line than from entire open optotypes in a row. By demonstrating the optotypes separately, there is a greater risk of overestimating the visual acuity of the amblyopic patient, thereby failing to diagnose amblyopia, and starting therapy in time. This is important because the earlier amblyopia is diagnosed – the better the chance of improving visual acuity.

This is a 2021 ARVO Annual Meeting abstract.

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