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Fluoxetine As a Possible Treatment for Adult Amblyopia: Results of a Double-Blind, Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Trial Publisher Pubmed



Mirmohammadsadeghi A1 ; Mousavi A1 ; Akbari MR1 ; Khojasteh H1 ; Masoomian B1 ; Sadeghi M1 ; Yadegari S1 ; Asadigandomani H1, 2
Authors
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Authors Affiliations
  1. 1. Eye Research Center, Farabi Eye Hospital, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
  2. 2. School of medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

Source: Journal of AAPOS Published:2024


Abstract

Purpose: To evaluate the effects of oral fluoxetine on visual acuity and visual-evoked potential (VEP) parameters in adults patching for amblyopia. Methods: In this randomized clinical trial, adults (>18 years of age) with anisometropic or strabismic amblyopia were assigned randomly to a treatment (fluoxetine) group or a placebo group. Standard treatments for amblyopia (glasses prescription and patching) were prescribed for 4 months for all patients beforehand. The first group received fluoxetine (20 mg per day) and the second group received a placebo for 3 months, both continuing patching. Visual acuity evaluation and VEP were performed before and after treatment. Results: A total of 55 participants were included: 29 in the fluoxetine group and 26 in the placebo group. Mean age was 27.2 ± 8.6 years (18-54). The mean logMAR visual acuity of the amblyopic eye improved by 0.20 ± 0.24 (0-0.8) in the fluoxetine group (P < 0.001) and by 0.08 ± 0.15 (0-0.7) in the placebo group (P = 0.01); mean logMAR improvement was significantly higher in the fluoxetine group than in the placebo group (P = 0.04). At the end of the study, mean visual acuity of the fluoxetine group (0.36 ± 0.21 log MAR) was better than the placebo group (0.43 ± 0.35 log MAR). Among the VEP parameters, N75 amplitude did not change significantly in either group relative to baseline, but the changes were statistically significantly different between the two groups (P = 0.05); N135 latency improved from baseline in the fluoxetine group (P = 0.03). Conclusions: In our study cohort, fluoxetine treatment resulted in greater improvement in visual acuity than placebo during patching for adult amblyopia. © 2024 American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus