Influence of Sociodemographic Factors and Treatment Timing on Amblyopia Outcomes

Amblyopia, often known as "lazy eye," is the primary cause of vision impairment in one eye among children, affecting approximately 2% of the population. The success rate of treatment for amblyopia can be significantly influenced by various sociodemographic factors, including race, socioeconomic status, and access to healthcare resources.

Research from Ireland indicates that children from socioeconomically disadvantaged backgrounds are more prone to ongoing amblyopia, highlighting disparities linked to income levels, access to pediatric eye care, and age at diagnosis. Early detection and consistent treatment adherence are crucial for better outcomes.

A recent retrospective study published in Ophthalmology by Dr. Melinda Chang and colleagues analyzed data from 168 children over a decade, focusing on clinical and sociodemographic variables such as age at diagnosis, race, insurance type, and visual acuity. The study found that approximately 78% of patients experienced resolution of amblyopia. Factors associated with improved outcomes included younger age at diagnosis, higher household income, treatment compliance, residence in resource-rich neighborhoods, and English as the primary language.

Importantly, race, ethnicity, sex, neurodevelopmental conditions, and initial stereoacuity did not significantly affect treatment success. Multivariate analysis emphasized that age at diagnosis remained the most significant predictor of visual improvement.

These findings underscore the importance of early vision screening and equitable access to specialized pediatric eye care to improve treatment success and reduce disparities. Policy initiatives aimed at enhancing healthcare accessibility could have a meaningful impact on visual health outcomes and overall psychosocial development.

Source: https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-07-impact-sociodemographic-factors-treatment-compliance.html