The Characteristics of Visual Function and Intervention in Deprivation Amblyopia in Limbal Dermoid Children After Keratoplasty: A Pilot Study of Adopting Flank-Mask Perceptual Learning

Abstract BackgroundTo compare visual acuity and CSF improvement with perceptual learning versus part-time patching in limbal dermoid children after keratoplasty.MethodsAll children in the limbal dermoid and normal group underwent visual acuity and CSF evaluation, and the normal group wore the optical defocus to simulate the corresponding visual acuity of the limbal dermoid group. Among the limbal dermoid children, 9 underwent perceptual learning(PL), and 8 underwent part-time patching for 6 months and were followed for 6 months to evaluate visual acuity and CSF.ResultsRegarding CSF, the area under log CSF (AULCSF) and the cutoff spatial frequency (cutoff SF) were obviously reduced in the limbal dermoid group compared with the optical defocus group and normal viewing group (1.29±0.27 vs 0.40±0.05 vs 0.70±0.05, and 5.38±0.75 vs 8.81±0.74 vs 14.81±0.89, all p value <0.05). Following PL, visual acuity increased from 0.63±0.11 to 0.32±0.09 (P=0.04) . Contrast sensitivity increased mainly in the low special frequencies as AULCSF improved from 0.49±0.15 to 0.73±0.18 (P=0.32), 0.78±0.21 (P=0.28), 0.80±0.19 (P=0.22) and 1.06±0.20 (P=0.04) from baseline to the 6th month in the PL group, while it remained unchanged in the part-time patching group.ConclusionsChildren suffering from limbal dermoid with amblyopia exhibited CSF deficits and perceptual learning was found to improve VA and CSF in the amblyopic eye better than patching.Trial registrationThe study was registered at clinicaltrials.gov (PRS, ID NCT03447041).