Dichoptic Game Training in Strabismic Amblyopia Improves the Visual Evoked Response.

Area of Science:

• Ophthalmology
• Neuroscience
• Vision Science

Background:

• Amblyopia, a common visual disorder, often results in reduced visual acuity and stereopsis.
• Traditional amblyopia treatments can be lengthy and may have limited efficacy in adults.
• Dichoptic therapy, presenting different stimuli to each eye, shows promise for amblyopia treatment.

Observation:

• This case report series evaluated supervised dichoptic training using virtual reality video games in three patients (one adult, two children) with strabismic amblyopia.
• The study assessed changes in visual acuity (VA), stereoacuity, and pattern visual evoked potentials (VEPs).
• Participants underwent at least 20 hours of supervised dichoptic training, with sessions twice weekly.

Findings:

• Supervised dichoptic training did not significantly improve visual acuity but led to a remarkable increase in stereoacuity and a decrease in phorias.
• Improvements were observed in the P100 latency of pattern VEPs in the amblyopic eye for all participants.
• High compliance and treatment efficiency were noted, suggesting the feasibility of this approach.

Implications:

• Dichoptic video gaming in VR is a viable therapeutic option for strabismic amblyopia, particularly for improving stereoacuity and visual processing speed.
• The observed improvements in VEP latency suggest that enhanced visual processing may precede measurable gains in visual acuity.
• This approach offers a potentially more engaging and effective treatment modality for amblyopia, even in adult patients.