Summary for the Clinician

■There have been a number of studies investigating HRQoL implications of amblyopia and/or strabismus over recent years. These have involved studies with children who have the condition, or adults who had previously undergone treatment.

■Studies have reported amblyopia to impact upon stereoacuity, fine motor skills, and reading speed.

■The presence of amblyopia does not appear to have any impact on educational attainment or paid employment in adult life.

■Amblyopia (more specifically amblyopia treatment) has been shown to impact negatively upon a child’s emotional well-being; and may also a ect relationships between the child and parent/guardian.

■The issue of bullying and amblyopia treatment requires further investigation. Some studies reported that children who had glasses or had a history of occlusion therapy were more likely to be victims of bullying. However, other studies refuted this.

■Taken in isolation, the impact of any one of the aforementioned problems may be minimally associated with detriment to HRQoL. However, the cumulative e ect of impaired reading, motor skills, and psychosocial impact of amblyopia, for example, might influence HRQoL to a greater degree.

■The reported HRQoL implications of strabismus are related to physical appearance and the impact of strabismus upon self-image and interpersonal relationships. Surgical correction of strabismus has been reported to improve HRQoL.

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