The Effect on Pediatric Ophthalmologists of the Randomized Trial of Patching Regimens for Treatment of Moderate Amblyopia

Purpose: To investigate the implementation of the recommendations of the randomized trial of patching regimens for treatment of moderate amblyopia in children. Methods: A questionnaire was e-mailed to 380 members of the American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus. Results: Ninety responses were received. The majority of questionnaire respondents did not alter their clinical practice of patching subsequent to publication of the results of the patching trial. Thirty-nine percent made no modification whatsoever; an additional 33% made rare adjustments, and only 12% claimed to have adapted the amount of patching hours to the recommendations of the study. Conclusions: It is evident from the questionnaire results that the majority of pediatric ophthalmologists that replied to the questionnaire did not alter their clinical practice of patching subsequent to publication of the results of the patching trial.