The University of North Dakota (UND) research team has been selected as a clinical site for the Pediatric Eye Disease Investigator Group (PEDIG) to conduct clinical trials evaluating innovative treatments for pediatric eye conditions, primarily focusing on amblyopia, commonly known as lazy eye. The PEDIG studies are funded by the National Eye Institute (NEI) of the National Institutes of Health (NIH).
Virtual Reality as a Novel Treatment for Amblyopia
Researchers at UND are recruiting families to participate in randomized clinical trials of dichoptic treatment for amblyopia, utilizing virtual reality (VR) headsets. These trials, targeting children aged 4 to 12, will span 18 to 26 weeks. The aim is to assess whether VR therapy can offer a more effective and engaging alternative to traditional treatments like eye patching.
Study Design and Implementation
Two separate studies are planned. One study will involve children aged 4-7 who will be randomly assigned to either traditional eye patching (2 hours/day, 7 days/week) or VR therapy using Luminopia headsets (1 hour/day, 6 days/week) for 26 weeks. A second study will enroll children aged 8-12 to compare Luminopia VR (1 hour/day, 6 days/week) or Vivid Vision VR (25 minutes/day, 6 days/week) to treatment with glasses alone over 18 weeks. The primary outcome will be the improvement in visual acuity.
Leadership and Expertise
David Biberdorf, a UND researcher and former optometrist, will serve as the principal investigator. Dmitri Poltavski, a vision researcher and professor of psychology at UND, will be the site coordinator. Carolina Praus Poltavski, an optometric vision therapist, will be the clinical site coordinator.
Impact of Amblyopia and Current Treatment Landscape
Amblyopia affects 2% to 5% of the pediatric population and is the leading cause of monocular vision loss in children. Traditional treatment involves patching the stronger eye to force the weaker eye to work harder. However, compliance can be challenging, especially in older children. Virtual reality offers a potential advantage by providing a more engaging and interactive experience.
How VR Treatment Works
The VR headsets use dichoptic technology, presenting different images to each eye simultaneously. By manipulating the image quality or luminance, the amblyopic eye is given a visual advantage, encouraging the brain to balance input from both eyes. This approach aims to improve binocularity and visual acuity more effectively than traditional patching.
Potential Benefits of VR Therapy
Early evidence suggests that VR therapy may improve visual acuity more quickly than patching, potentially improving patient compliance and reducing the cost of treatment. It may also benefit patients who have plateaued with traditional therapy.
Collaboration and Funding
The PEDIG was formed by the NEI in 1997 to facilitate multicenter clinical research in pediatric eye disorders. The Jaeb Center for Health Research serves as the coordinating center for PEDIG studies. The current trials are funded through the NIH, and families participating in the study will receive Amazon gift cards to cover travel and related expenses.
