Feasibility of Monitoring Compliance with Intermittent Occlusion Therapy Glasses for Amblyopia Treatment
Background
Intermittent occlusion therapy (IO therapy) glasses, utilizing liquid crystal technology, offer a novel approach to treating amblyopia by alternating between opaque and transparent phases. This method aims to improve compliance compared to traditional adhesive patches. However, objective compliance with these glasses had not been previously measured.
Methods
Children aged 3 to 8 years with unilateral amblyopia were enrolled in the study. They were prescribed IO therapy glasses set at 30-second opaque/transparent intervals, aiming for 50% occlusion of the wear time. Compliance was monitored using a microsensor attached to the glasses.
Results
Thirteen subjects provided microsensor data, showing an average compliance of 51.6%, with a range from 10% to 97%. Compliance varied among individuals and slightly decreased over time. Visual acuity improved by an average of 0.14 logMAR. No social concerns related to the microsensor were reported by parents.
Conclusions
The study demonstrated that objective compliance with IO therapy glasses can be reliably monitored using a microsensor. While compliance varied and slightly declined over time, the improvement in visual acuity suggests the potential effectiveness of IO therapy glasses as an alternative to patching for amblyopia treatment. The findings underscore the importance of monitoring compliance in both research and clinical settings to better understand and enhance treatment outcomes.