Related Experiment Video
Updated: Mar 12, 2026
Comparison of Three Clinical Stereoscopic Methods for Measuring Binocular Visual Function During Amblyopic Treatment in Unilateral Amblyopia
Published on: September 27, 2024
Efficacy of an Amblyopia Treatment Program with Both Eyes Open: A Functional Near-Infrared Spectroscopy Study
Yo Iwata1, Tomoya Handa2, Hitoshi Ishikawa2,3
1From the Doctor's Program of Medical Science, Kitasato University Graduate School, 1-15-1 Kitasato, Sagamihara 252-0373; mm14004q@st.kitasato-u.ac.jp.
Introduction And Purpose:
To investigate the efficacy of an amblyopia treatment program with both eyes open.
Methods:
Ten subjects (mean age 20.5 ± 1.5 years) were enrolled. All subjects had un-remarkable ophthalmic examinations, but several subjects had minor refractive errors. Vision function was evaluated using the 3-D visual function trainer-ORTe. Brain measurements were made using functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) to examine the oxygenated hemoglobin (HbO2) concentration change upon visual stimulus presentation. The three conditions were as follows: both eyes open and both eyes stimulated, both eyes open and only one eye stimulated, and one eye open and one eye stimulated.
Results:
Changes in HbO2 between the rest and stimulation phases were not statistically different between the unilateral and bilateral stimulation conditions with both eyes open. However, HbO2 change was significantly higher in subjects with both eyes open than in subjects with one eye closed (P < 0.001, all comparisons).
Conclusion:
Greater activation of the visual cortex is achieved when subjects are treated with both eyes open as compared to subjects with one eye occluded. From a perspective of functional brain activation, amblyopia treatment administered without occluding the healthy eye may provide the greatest therapeutic benefit.
