Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 21, 2026
The Measurement and Treatment of Suppression in Amblyopia
Published on: December 14, 2012
Treatment of children with amblyopia by perceptual learning
Uri Polat1, Tova Ma-Naim, Abraham Spierer
1Goldschleger Eye Research Institute, Tel-Aviv University, Sheba Medical Center, 52621 Tel Hashomer, Israel. urip@post.tau.ac.il
Insights
Perceptual learning effectively treats amblyopia in children when patching fails. This vision therapy improved visual acuity and contrast sensitivity in young patients.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Neuroscience
- Developmental Pediatrics
Background:
- Amblyopia, or 'lazy eye,' is a common cause of reduced vision in children.
- Conventional treatment, such as patching, is not always effective, especially in non-compliant patients or when treatment fails.
- Perceptual learning has shown promise in improving visual functions in adults with amblyopia.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the efficacy of a perceptual learning technique for treating amblyopia in children.
- To determine if this technique can improve vision in children who failed or were non-compliant with patching therapy.
- To adapt and apply a successful adult perceptual learning protocol to a pediatric population.
Main Methods:
- A prospective clinical pilot study involving five children (ages 7-8) with amblyopia.
- Treatment involved a perceptual learning protocol similar to that used in adults, with engaging computer games to enhance compliance.
- Children received up to 40 sessions (1 hour each) over several weeks, with 30 minutes of practice per session.
Main Results:
- Significant improvement in visual acuity, averaging 1.5 Snellen lines (2.12 ETDRS lines).
- Enhanced contrast sensitivity, with post-treatment levels reaching the normal range.
- The treatment was well-tolerated and compliance was maintained through engaging activities.
Conclusions:
- Perceptual learning is a viable and effective treatment for pediatric amblyopia.
- This method offers a promising alternative for children who have not responded to or cannot comply with patching.
- Further research with larger cohorts is warranted to confirm these findings and optimize treatment protocols.
Abstract:
Recent studies have shown that perceptual learning has the potential to treat amblyopia. In this study we tested whether a recent perceptual learning technique that improved visual functions in adults can be applied to improve the vision of children after the conventional treatment of patching has failed. A prospective clinical pilot study was carried out in children who were non-compliant with patching or in whom patching had failed despite good compliance. Each child underwent a complete eye examination before and after treatment. The treatment was based on a perceptual learning technique that was similar to the adult study [Polat, U., Ma-Naim, T., Belkin, M., & Sagi, D. (2004). Improving vision in adult amblyopia by perceptual learning. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, 101(17), 6692-6697]. Between blocks, children played a computer game to engage and maintain their attention in order to increase compliance. Each child received two treatment sessions a week, with a total of not more than 40 sessions. Each session lasted for about 1h and included a total practice time of about 30min. The age of the children (n=5) was between 7 and 8years (mean 7.3years). For the whole group, the average improvement in visual acuity was 1.5 Snellen lines or 2.12 ETDRS lines. The training improved the contrast sensitivity, which reached the normal range after treatment. Thus, the perceptual learning technique can be successfully used to treat children with amblyopia even after the conventional treatment of patching fails.
