A virtual-reality-based asynchronous dichoptic treatment for anisometropic amblyopia: A retrospective pilot clinical
Jing Wen1, Wang Wenyao2, Xin Huang3
1Department of Ophthalmology, Peking University Third Hospital, Peking University, Beijing, China.
Insights
Virtual reality (VR) treatment for amblyopia showed superior results compared to traditional methods. This VR-only approach offers a safe and effective way to improve vision in children, with lasting benefits.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology and Visual Science
- Pediatric Eye Care
- Digital Health and Medical Technology
Background:
- Anisometropic amblyopia, commonly known as lazy eye, affects visual acuity in one eye.
- Current treatments like patching (occlusion) can be burdensome for children.
- Novel therapeutic approaches are needed to enhance treatment efficacy and compliance.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the safety and effectiveness of virtual reality (VR) head-mounted display-based asynchronous binocular visual stimulation for treating pediatric anisometropic amblyopia.
- To compare VR-based treatment with traditional occlusion therapy.
Main Methods:
- A randomized clinical trial involving 40 children aged 4-9 years with anisometropic amblyopia.
- Participants were assigned to occlusion only, or occlusion plus VR treatment.
- A VR-only group received asynchronous visual stimulation without occlusion; intention-to-treat, per-protocol, and as-treated analyses were conducted.
Main Results:
- The VR-only treatment group achieved the primary success criterion (visual acuity improvement ≥ 0.3 logMAR), outperforming both occlusion and occlusion + VR groups.
- VR-only treatment demonstrated superior effectiveness compared to occlusion and combined therapies.
- The visual benefits achieved through asynchronous visual stimulation were sustained for at least one year post-treatment.
Conclusions:
- Virtual reality-only treatment for anisometropic amblyopia is safe and highly effective.
- This method yields significant and persistent improvements in visual acuity.
- Further large-scale, double-blind, randomized controlled trials are recommended to validate these findings.
Purpose:
To assess the safety and effectiveness of virtual reality (VR) head-mounted display-based asynchronous binocular visual stimulation for the treatment of children with anisometropic amblyopia.
Methods:
This was a randomized clinical trial. A total of 40 children 4-9 years of age whose best-corrected visual acuity (VA) in the amblyopic eye (AE) before treatment was between 0.2 and 1.0 logMAR (logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution in minutes of arc) were randomly assigned to receive occlusion only or occlusion + VR. Children in the VR-only group were not randomly assigned to this group.
Interventions:
Children in the control group were from the same cohort as those in the preceding study and received daily occlusion-only treatment. Children in the occlusion + VR group received daily occlusion and asynchronous visual stimulation. Children in the VR-only group received only asynchronous visual stimulation. Intention-to-treat, per-protocol, and as-treated analyses were performed to determine the outcomes of this clinical trial.
Results:
Compared with the occlusion and occlusion + VR groups, the VR-only treatment group met the VA criterion for successful treatment (VA improvement ≥ 0.3 logMAR). These results suggest that the performance of the VR-only treatment was superior to that of the occlusion and occlusion + VR treatments. The benefits of asynchronous conditioning were maintained for at least one year.
Conclusions:
This study suggests that VR-only treatment is safe and effective. It can produce substantial and persistent improvements in VA. A larger-sample, double-blind, randomized controlled clinical trial is warranted to confirm the effects of binocular asynchronous visual treatment for amblyopia.
Trial Registration:
ChiCTR2200055848.
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