An Active Approach to Treat Amblyopia: Perceptual Learning and Video Games

Not Applicable

Completed

• Conditions: Amblyopia
• Interventions: Behavioral: Perceptual learning; Behavioral: Occlusion therapy; Behavioral: Video Games

• Registration Number: NCT01115283
• Lead Sponsor: University of California, Berkeley

Brief Summary

Amblyopia, a developmental abnormality that impairs spatial vision, is a major cause of vision loss, resulting in reduced visual acuity and reduced sensitivity to contrast. This study uses psychophysical measures to study neural plasticity in both adults and children with amblyopia.

Detailed Description

Amblyopia, a developmental abnormality that impairs spatial vision, is a major cause of vision loss, resulting in reduced visual acuity and reduced sensitivity to contrast. Our previous findings (see CITATIONS) show that the adult amblyopic brain is still plastic and malleable, suggesting that active approach is potential useful in treating amblyopia. The goal of this project is to assess the limits and mechanisms of neural plasticity in both normal and amblyopic spatial vision. This study uses psychophysical measures to study neural plasticity in both adults and children with amblyopia. Research participants will be asked to practice a visual discrimination task (perceptual learning) or to play video games with the amblyopic eye for a period of time. A range of visual functions will be monitored during the course of treatment.

Study Timeline

• Study First Submitted: 2010-05-03
• Study First Submitted QC: 2010-05-03
• Study First Posted: 2010-05-04
• Study Start: 2015-07
• Primary Completion: 2022-10-31
• Study Completion: 2022-10-31
• Status Verified: 2022-11
• Last Update Submitted: 2022-11-10
• Last Update Posted: 2022-11-14

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: COMPLETED
• Sex: All
• Target Recruitment: 50

Inclusion Criteria

• adults and children (>5 years old) with normal vision or amblyopia
• amblyopia: interocular VA difference of at least 0.1 logMAR

Exclusion Criteria

• any ocular pathological conditions, nystagmus

Study & Design

• Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Design: CROSSOVER

Arm && Interventions

Group	Intervention	Description
Perceptual learning	Perceptual learning	Patients will be asked to practice a range of visual discrimination tasks for a period of time (each therapy session:1-2 hrs, 4-5 sessions/wk for \~1-6 months).
Occlusion therapy	Occlusion therapy	The fellow sound will be covered with a standard eye patch for a period of time (1-2 hrs/day, 4-5 days/wk for \~1-3 months). The idea is to push the brain to use the weaker amblyopic eye.
Video game	Video Games	Patients will be asked to play videogames for a period of time (each therapy session:1-2 hrs, 4-5 sessions/wk for \~1-6 months).

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Amblyopic vision	9 months	Improvement in amblyopic vision : visual acuity and stereoacuity

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Spatial vision	9 months	Improvement in spatial vision (eg. contrast sensitivity, positional acuity and spatial attention)
Temporal vision	9 months	Improvement in temporal processing and temporal vision

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Minor Hall 486, School of Optometry, University of California, Berkeley; 🇺🇸 Berkeley, California, United States