Amblyopia Treatment through Immersive Virtual Reality: A Preliminary Experience in Anisometropic Children

Abstract

The use of digital devices provides a wide range of possibilities for measuring and improving visual function, including concepts such as perceptual learning and dichoptic therapy. Different technologies can be used to apply these concepts, including, in recent years, the introduction of virtual reality (VR) systems. A preliminary experience in treating anisometropic amblyopia through an immersive VR device and using prototype software is described. A total of 4 children were treated by performing 18 office-based sessions. Results showed that distance VA in amblyopic eyes remained constant in two subjects, whereas the younger subjects improved after the training. Near VA improved in three subjects. All subjects showed an increase in the stereopsis of at least one step, with three subjects showing a final stereopsis of a 60 s arc. A total of three subjects showed an increase of approximately 0.5 CS units for the spatial frequency of 3 cpd after the training. Results from this pilot study suggest that visual training based on perceptual learning through an immersive VR environment could be a viable treatment for improving CS, VA, and stereopsis in some children with anisometropic amblyopia. Future studies should support these preliminary results.

Effectiveness of a Gamified Mobile Application in Enhancing Treatment Adherence for Children with Amblyopia: A Explorative Study (Preprint)

“…As a consequence, regular treatment becomes challenging to obtain [19,20]. Against the backdrop, digital therapy, combined with visual tasks, has emerged as a promising method[1, 21,22]. These visual tasks, often in the form of digital videos or games, encompass a range of activities aimed at improving visual function, including vernier acuity, contrast detection, letter recognition, and spatial frequency discrimination [23][24][25][26][27].…”

“…They engage children in demanding activities that specifically target training the amblyopic eye, which contributes to the treatment of amblypia [28][29][30]. The combination of digital technology and visual tasks offers a dynamic and engaging approach to amblyopia treatment[1, 9,21,22,31,32]. Therefore, the innovative form of therapy can serve as valuable supplements to conventional treatment methods.…”

Current Developments in the Management of Amblyopia with the Use of Perceptual Learning Techniques

“…Virtual Reality/Augmented Reality Virtual reality (VR) is the presentation of a simulated 3D environment generated by a computer, projected before the patient's eyes on a head-mounted display [47]. It offers the patient a vivid, fully immersive experience, where he can actively interact with the software through multiple sensory functions, visual, auditory, and haptic [12,27,35,47,48]. Augmented reality (AR), on the other hand, is a live presentation of the real-world environment enhanced with additional digital elements projected over it [47].…”

“…Over recent years, VR and AR headset devices have become more commercially available, allowing the use of this technology in PL therapies with dichoptic video games for amblyopia [12,48]. VR/AR helmets provide ideal dichoptic viewing conditions while they offer the ability to adjust via software, proper alignment of the presented images in cases of strabismus, as well as other treatment variables, like contrast balance between the eyes and depth cues given within the games [12].…”