International Clinical and Medical Case Reports Journal (ISSN: 2832-5788) | Volume 4, Issue 7 | Review Article | Open Access
Ubani Udo Ahanna*
1Faculty of Optometry, Abia State University Uturu, Abia State 2Department of Optometry, Gregory University Uturu, Abia State
*Correspondence to: Ubani Udo Ahanna
Fulltext PDFSuppression is a neural adaptation that inhibits conflicting visual input from one eye to avoid diplopia or visual confusion, particularly in the presence of strabismus, amblyopia, or anisometropia. Although beneficial as a compensatory mechanism, persistent suppression can disrupt binocular integration, leading to long-term sensory deficits. This systematic review aims to classify the types of suppression, examine their clinical associations with various binocular vision disorders, evaluate diagnostic approaches, and assess available therapeutic interventions. A systematic search was conducted across PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, and Google Scholar, covering articles published from January 2000 to May 2025. After removing duplicates and applying inclusion criteria, 38 studies were included. Data were extracted and quality assessed using the Cochrane Risk of Bias tool, Newcastle-Ottawa Scale, and JBI appraisal checklists. Suppression was categorized into facultative, obligatory, central, and peripheral types, each associated with specific clinical conditions. Strabismus— particularly esotropia and exotropia—was the most common association, followed by amblyopia, anisometropia, and convergence insufficiency. Diagnostic tools such as the Worth 4-dot test, Bagolini lenses, and cover testing varied in sensitivity and application. Management options including occlusion therapy, vision therapy, and prisms showed moderate to strong effectiveness, particularly when initiated early. Understanding suppression types and their clinical contexts is essential for accurate diagnosis and tailored intervention. Future research should focus on standardizing assessment tools and expanding evidence on adult neuroplasticity in suppression therapy.
Ubani Udo Ahanna, Ejike Thaddaeus Chukwudi, Onyekwere Ike Francis. Types and Clinical Associations of Suppression. Int Clinc Med Case Rep Jour. 2025;4(7):1-12.