Effects of eye movement training on balance and ocular motor function in community-dwelling Japanese school-aged children: a pilot study using a single-group intervention
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Published on: August 22, 2025
Yasuhiro Suzuki1, Hiroshi Kamada2, Shingo Hirata3
1Institute of Systems, Information and Engineering, University of Tsukuba, 1-1-1 Tennodai, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, 305-8575, Japan. minaminagasaki2007@yahoo.co.jp.
Background:
Eye-movement training (ET) has been proposed as a way to support balance, but its feasibility and long-term effects in children are unclear. We evaluated a 24-week home-based ET program, delivered via the SUKUBARA® video system, in community-dwelling school-aged children, focusing on balance and ocular motor-related visual functions.
Methods:
In this single-arm study, community-dwelling school-aged children performed a daily ET program combining pursuit, saccadic, and Vestibulo-Ocular Reflex x2-based exercises while watching an instructional video at home. Adherence was quantified from automatically recorded video playback time (sessions/week). The primary outcome was the index of postural stability (IPS) of four types. Secondary outcomes were one-leg standing time (OLS; eyes open/closed), grip strength, jump height, and two ocular motor-related functional tests: eye-hand coordination (EHC) and horizontal moving digit identification (HDI). Appropriate statistical analyses were performed, with statistical significance set at p < 0.05.
Results:
Among the 30 participants, 28 completed the study (mean age 10 ± 1 years; 12 girls [43%]). The total video viewing time over the 24-week period was 9.2 ± 3.6 h (equivalent to 4.6 ± 1.8 sessions/week). Pre-post comparisons revealed significant improvements in EHC (33 ± 5 to 36 ± 5; p < 0.001), HDI (12 ± 3 to 14 ± 4; p = 0.010), OLS with eyes closed (23 [11, 44] to 35 [19, 52]; p = 0.004), and grip strength (16.5 [13.8, 18.1] to 18.0 [14.5, 20.5]; p = 0.002). In contrast, no significant changes were observed in IPS of four types, jump height and OLS with eyes opened. Furthermore, correlation analyses between change scores and training frequency showed a significant positive correlation only with EHC (r = 0.570, p = 0.003).
Conclusions:
Our findings suggest that a 24-week home-based eye-movement training program with SUKUBARA® was feasible for school-aged children and has the potential to improve ocular motor-related visual function. However, the effects on balance were limited and require confirmation in controlled trials.
Trial Registration:
This study was registered with the University Hospital Medical Information Network Clinical Trials Registry (UMIN-CTR; Registration No. UMIN000055747; date of registration: November 4, 2024; prospectively registered). No medical devices were used in this study.
