OVP 14-2 Final Version New Newest

Optometry & Visual Performance 179 Volume 14 | Issue 2 | June 2026 between the myopes vs. hyperopes and emmetropes was statistically significant (p<0.05) as compared to hyperopes vs. emmetropes (p=0.152). The mean values of RNFL thickness were thinner for myopes vs. hyperopes (p<0.05) in all quadrants. The mean value of RNFL thickness was greater in emmetropes than hyperopes in both the temporal and superior quadrants.20 The findings of the present study indicate that RNFL thickness for the supra-nasal quadrant in hyperopic amblyopia was thicker amongst the refractive errors. There was no statistically significant difference between various types of refractive error in other quadrants. Conclusion This study offers a significant and surprising insight into the relationship between RNFL thickness and amblyopia. Our results contradict the widely held belief that identifiable structural alterations in the RNFL are a consequence of amblyopia, a disorder generally linked to aberrant visual development. The RNFL thickness of amblyopic eyes was found to be similar to that of their fellow (non-affected) eyes in all retinal quadrants. This held true regardless of the type of amblyopia. These findings directly contradict the conventional belief that amblyopia leads to thinning of the RNFL, which has been thought to reflect underlying retinal or optic nerve pathology. Our study suggests that the structural integrity of the RNFL may remain unaffected in amblyopia, even in the presence of significant visual deficits. This calls for assessing the existing theories of the pathophysiology of amblyopia, especially with regard to its assumed impact on retinal structure. References 1. Al-Tamimi ER, Shakeel A, Yassin SA, Ali SI, Khan UA. A clinicbased study of refractive errors, strabismus, and amblyopia in pediatric age-group. J Fam Community Med 2015;22(3):15862. 2. Lee L, Javaid MI, Riaz F, Awan F, et al. Quality of refractive error care in Pakistan: An unannounced standardised patient study. BMJ Open Ophthalmol 2023 Oct;8(1):e001354. doi: 10.1136/bmjophth-2023-001354. 3. American Academy of Ophthalmology. 2015. Introduction to Amblyopia. Available from: https://www.aao.org/education/ disease-review/amblyopia-introduction. Last Accessed December 4, 2024. 4. Polling JR, Loudon SE, Klaver CC. Prevalence of amblyopia and refractive errors in an unscreened population of children. Optom Vis Sci 2012;89(11):e44-9. 5. Harrington SC, Stack J, Saunders K, O’Dwyer V. Refractive error and visual impairment in Ireland schoolchildren. Br J Ophthalmol 2019;103:1112-8. 6. Bradfield YS. Identification and treatment of amblyopia. Am Fam Physician 2013;87(5):348-52. 7. Yakar K, Kan E, Alan A, Alp MH, Ceylan T. Retinal nerve fibre layer and macular thicknesses in adults with hyperopic anisometropic amblyopia. J Ophthalmol 2015:2015:946467. doi: 10.1155/2015/946467. 8. Chen W, Chen J, Huang J, Xu J, et al. Comparison of macular and retinal nerve fiber layer thickness in untreated and treated binocular amblyopia. Cur Eye Res 2013;38(12):124854. 9. Alotaibi AG, Al Enazi B. Unilateral amblyopia: Optical coherence tomography findings. Saudi J Ophthalmol 2011;25(4):405-9. 10. Miki A, Shirakashi M, Yaoeda K, Kabasawa Y, et al. Retinal nerve fiber layer thickness in recovered and persistent amblyopia. Clin Ophthalmol 2010;4:1061-4. 11. Wang Y, Liang YB, Sun LP, Duan XR, et al. Prevalence and causes of amblyopia in a rural adult population of Chinese: The Handan Eye Study. Ophthalmol 2011;118(2):279-83. 12. Walker RA, Rubab S, Voll ARL, Erraguntla V, Murphy PH. Macular and peripapillary retinal nerve fibre layer thickness in adults with amblyopia. Can J Ophthalmol 2011;46(5):4257. 13. Lin SC, Singh K, Jampel HD, Hodapp EA, et al. Optic nerve head and retinal nerve fiber layer analysis: A report by the American Academy of Ophthalmology. Ophthalmol 2007;114(10):1937-49. 14. Aldebasi YH. Prevalence of amblyopia in primary school children in Qassim province, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Middle East Afr J Ophthalmol 2015;22(1):86-91. 15. Kee SY, Lee SY, Lee YC. Thicknesses of the fovea and retinal nerve fiber layer in amblyopic and normal eyes in children. Korean J Ophthalmol 2006;20(3):177-81. 16. Yen MY, Cheng CY, Wang AG. Retinal nerve fiber layer thickness in unilateral amblyopia. IOVS 2004;45:2224-30. Available from https://iovs.arvojournals.org/article.aspx?articleid=2123897 17. Yoon SW, Park WH, Baek SH, Kong SM. Thicknesses of macular retinal layer and peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer in patients with hyperopic anisometropic amblyopia. Korean J Ophthalmol 2005;19(1):62-7. 18. Chen W, Chen J, Huang J, Xu J, et al. Comparison of macular and retinal nerve fiber layer thickness in untreated and treated binocular amblyopia. Curr Eye Res 2013;38(12):124854. 19. Kantarci FA, Tatar MG, Uslu H, Colak HN. Choroidal and peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer thickness in adults with anisometropic amblyopia. 2015 Sep-Oct;25(5):437-42. 20. Hamed SOWH, Qureshi NMFMA, Ahmad AEMMI. Analysis of RNFL thickness among different refractive states using OCT. Pak J Ophthalmol 2019;34(2). doi: doi: 10.36351/pjo.v34i2.957 Correspondence regarding this article should be emailed to Muhammad Asad Saeed, BS Optom at asadsaeed032@gmail.com. All statements are the authors’ personal opinions and may not reflect the opinions of the representative organization, OEPF, OVP, or any institution or organization with which the authors may be affiliated. Permission to use reprints of this article must be obtained from the editor. Copyright 2026 OEPF . www.oepf.org and www.ovpjournal.org. Saeed MA, Sadat A, Ayyub F, Aziz A. Fatima R, ul Ain Q. A comparative cross-sectional study on amblyopia and its relationship with retinal nerve fiber layer thickness. Optom Vis Perf 2026;14(2):174-79.

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