The effect of the randomized trial of patching regimens for treatment of moderate amblyopia on pediatric ophthalmologists: 3-year outcome.

PURPOSE

To investigate whether the recommendations of the randomized trial of patching regimens for treatment of moderate amblyopia in children have been adopted by pediatric ophthalmologists 3 years after publication.

METHODS

An identical questionnaire to that emailed 3 years ago (6 months after publication of the randomized trial) was emailed to 560 members of the American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus.

RESULTS

One hundred seven (20%) responses were received. Fifty-five percent of respondents had decreased their prescribed patching regimens at least sometimes as compared with 28% (p = 0.0005) in 2003. There was no significant increase in the prescription of near visual tasks or only 2 hour patching regimens.

CONCLUSIONS

Our study suggests that pediatric ophthalmologists may be prescribing fewer patching hours in 2006 in comparison to 2003. However, the majority of ophthalmologists are still reluctant to patch for only 2 hours, and there has not been a significant increase in prescribing near visual tasks during patching.