Use of Dichoptic Therapy for Deprivation Amblyopia: A Single Institution Study

To report the treatment of deprivation amblyopia with Luminopia (Luminopia, Inc), a digital therapeutic device using dichoptic viewing that received U.S. Food and Drug Administration approval for the treatment of anisometropic amblyopia in children 4 to 12 years of age.

Twenty-two pediatric patients prescribed the Luminopia device for deprivation amblyopia following childhood cataract or glaucoma surgery or congenital corneal opacity with at least 3 months of follow-up were identified. Best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) was compared to pretreatment at each follow-up visit. Total prescribed hours, usage, adherence, and completion of supplemental amblyopia treatment were analyzed.

Fifty-five percent of patients were boys, and the average age was 6.45 ± 3.0 years (mild to moderate amblyopia: 7.0 ± 3.1 years; severe amblyopia: 6.0 ± 3.0 years). At the 3-month follow-up visit, in the mild to moderate amblyopia cohort, 5 of the 8 patients (62.5%) showed at least one line of improvement in their BCVA in the amblyopic eye. One patient (12.5%) had the same BCVA, and 2 (25%) had decreased BCVA. In contrast, in the severe amblyopic cohort, 6 patients (50%) had improved, 5 (42%) had stable BCVA, and 1 (8%) had decreased BCVA.

Use of a dichoptic digital therapeutic device in the treatment and management of amblyopia holds exciting potential in deprivation amblyopia. Those with mild to moderate amblyopia appear to achieve greater visual acuity improvement compared to those with severe amblyopia, although a percentage of patients with severe amblyopia did show modest improvement.