Comparative analysis of visual function indicators in schoolchildren with partial optic nerve atrophy and amblyopia

Introduction. Visual impairments present significant challenges for learning in school, limit career choice, and restrict participation in sports. Therefore, the developing a comprehensive diagnostic system for assessing visual functions in children with functional and organic ophthalmopathology is a pressing tasks in modern ophthalmology. The aim is to further advance effective treatments and medical-pedagogical support for such children. Purpose: to conduct a comparative analysis of visual function indicators in schoolchildren with partial optic nerve atrophy (PONA) and amblyopia in order to create an effective diagnostic system for detecting monocular and binocular visual function disorders. Materials and methods . The study observed 120 school-age children with PONA, of whom 85 had strabismus and 35 did not. The group of schoolchildren with amblyopia consisted of 98 children (40 with dysbinocular amblyopia and 58 with refractive amblyopia). The control group included 67 children without ophthalmopathology. In addition to standard ophthalmological examinations, electrophysiological parameters (electrical sensitivity threshold and electrical lability), fusion amplitude, binocular and stereovision presence, stereokinetic effect, and visual memory indicators were assessed. Results. The study revealed that, along with organic causes of visual impairment (such as significant decreases in visual acuity, narrowing of visual fields, and worsening electrophysiological parameters), children with PONA also exhibited binocular visual function disorders. These included reduced fusion amplitude, absence of binocular and stereovision, and dominance of monocular spatial perception mechanisms. Binocular disorders were observed in children both with and without strabismus, while among children with amblyopia, these disorders are mainly associated with the dysbinocular form. A decrease in visual memory indicators was identified in both children with PONA and those with amblyopia. Conclusion. Binocular vision disorders and reduced visual memory were observed in schoolchildren with both partial optic nerve atrophy and amblyopia. However, binocular visual function disorders in children with PONA were identified both in the presence of strabismus and orthotropy, unlike children with amblyopia, who primarily exhibited binocular disorders in the presence of strabismus. The inclusion of visual memory and spatial perception indicators in the diagnosis and monitoring of visual functions supports a more individualized approach to the medical and pedagogical care of children with ophthalmopathology.