Eye patch dose 'can be reduced'

Researchers at City University in London are claiming a breakthrough in the treatment of childhood amblyopia.

A team within the Department of Optometry & Visual Science has found that the length of time an eye patch is worn for the usual treatment for amblyopia may be significantly reduced without compromising the outcome of the treatment.

To date, amblyopia patients wear an eye patch on the good eye to make the affected eye work harder, but researchers claim that the optimal time needed for this treatment has not been known. This has resulted in many children wearing a patch for up to 12 hours a day, in some cases for several years.