Comparison of the effect of full time and part time patch (in nonstrabismic & moderate amblyopia) in 3-7 years old children

Considering appropriate different ways and views between optometrists and ophtalmologists about time of patching the safe eye, it was nessary to performe an investigation about this subject. The main purpose of this investigation was to compare two methods of part time and full time patching to find the least effective time in treatment of nonstrabismic and moderate amblyopia. The present study was based on clinical experiments and the tests were done by Autorefractometer, Retinoscope, Ophtalmoscope and Broken wheel. There were 4565 children in screening test. About 80 amblyopic children aged between 3-7 years old were selected from 125 cases with the problem of amblyopia. Periodical exams were done monthly. Independent T, dependent T, regresion, and Fisher’s Exact Tests were for statistical analyses (SPSS 18). Eighty amblyope children were classified in 2 groups of closing safe eye in full time or part time patching. The difference of visual acuity was measured before and after treatment. There was not any statistical difference between 2 groups (p=0.293). Considering statistical results, the extent of improvement was equal between these 2 groups and there was not any meaningful difference between them. So, it would be concluded that in order to prevent unwanted side effects of closing the safe eye, an appropriate method for treatment of unstrabismic amblyopia may be the part time patching.