An Active Approach to Treat Amblyopia: Video Game Play

Not Applicable

Completed

• Conditions: Amblyopia
• Interventions: Behavioral: Perceptual learning; Behavioral: Crossover (Occlusion therapy + Video Game); Behavioral: Video Game

• Registration Number: NCT01223716
• 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 adults 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 amblyopic spatial vision. This study uses psychophysical measures to study neural plasticity in adults with amblyopia. Research participants will be asked 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 Start: 2004-12
• Primary Completion: 2009-12
• Study Completion: 2009-12
• Study First Submitted: 2010-10-18
• Study First Submitted QC: 2010-10-18
• Study First Posted: 2010-10-19
• Status Verified: 2016-05
• Last Update Submitted: 2016-05-14
• Last Update Posted: 2016-05-17

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: COMPLETED
• Sex: All
• Target Recruitment: 20

Inclusion Criteria

• Adults with amblyopia (Age >15 years)
• Amblyopia: interocular visual acuity difference of at least 0.1 logMAR
• All forms of amblyopia: Strabismic, anisometropic, refractive, deprivative, meridional amblyopia

Exclusion Criteria

• Any ocular pathological conditions (eg macula abnormalities, glaucoma), nystagmus

Study & Design

• Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Design: CROSSOVER

Arm && Interventions

Group	Intervention	Description
Perceptual learning	Perceptual learning	-
Occlusion Therapy	Crossover (Occlusion therapy + Video Game)	-
Video Game	Video Game	-

Primary Outcome Measures

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

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Temporal vision	9 months	Improvement in temporal processing and temporal vision (attentional blink)
Spatial vision	9 months	Improvement in spatial vision (positional acuity and spatial attention)

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

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