Paired Polarizing Filters an Alternative Method for Treating Amblyopia

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of amblyopia therapy utilizing a pair of rotating polarized filters to attenuate the light reaching the non amblyopic eye, and thus reduce its acuity, while still enabling binocular vision. Six amblyopic children between the ages 1 and 6 years were enrolled in the study. They were fitted with glasses that included a pair of polarizing filters in the normal eye and a tinted appropriate optical correction for the amblyopic eye. Three children completed one year’s use of the device and they are discussed in this report. In all three cases visual acuity improvement was obtained in the amblyopic eye. In one patient full steropsis was obtained on the Titmus Stereotest. This pilot study indicates that paired polarizing filters may be used as a mode of treatment in amblyopia.