Does amblyopia have a functional impact?

1. Graham A. Wilson¹
2. David Welch¹

¹University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand

Purpose
Limited data exist on how amblyopia impacts on everyday life. While some studies show that individuals with amblyopia perform less well on certain tasks and that the treatment of amblyopia may be have psycho-social sequelae, others do not. Two large population-based studies have found that adults with amblyopia perform as well as those without in a broad range of outcome domains. Experts continue to call for more research in this area.

Methods
We examined data from The Dunedin Multidisciplinary Health and Development Research Study, a longitudinal population birth cohort (born 1972-3, n=1037, retention rate age 32 years is 96%). Study members with amblyopia were compared with those without, for the following outcome domains; childhood motor development, adolescent self-esteem, and adult socio-economic outcomes.

Results
Being amblyopic or having recovered from amblyopia was associated with having a higher status occupation in adulthood. Amblyopia was not associated with the highest educational qualification achieved at age 32, nor income by age 32, nor reading ability during teenage years. There was no association between amblyopia and impaired motor ability using a variety of assessments from age 3 to age 11 years. Amblyopia was not associated with reduced self esteem at ages 11 and 13 years.