An Active Approach to Treat Amblyopia: Video Game Play

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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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
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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.

Official Title
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Does Video Game Play Induce Plasticity in the Visual System of Adults With Amblyopia?

Conditions
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Amblyopia

Intervention / Treatment
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* Behavioral: Perceptual learning
* Behavioral: Video Game
* Behavioral: Crossover (Occlusion therapy + Video Game)


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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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

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 5 Years
Maximum Age: 75 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Design Details

Primary Purpose: Basic Science
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention Model: Crossover Assignment
Masking: None (Open Label)


Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Experimental: Perceptual learning<br> | Behavioral: Perceptual learning<br>* Research participants will be asked to practice a visual discrimination task (e.g. position acuity, contrast sensitivity, stereoacuity etc) in our laboratory for a period of time (2 hrs/day, 5 days/week).<br>* Other names: vision training;|
| Experimental: Video Game<br> | Behavioral: Video Game<br>* Research participants will be asked to play off-the-shelf video games in our laboratory for a period of time (2 hrs/day, 5 days/week).<br>* Other names: vision training;|
| Experimental: Occlusion Therapy<br> | Behavioral: Crossover (Occlusion therapy + Video Game)<br>* Phase 1. Research participants will be required to cover the good eye during the day in order to push the brain to use the amblyopic eye (2 hrs/day, 5 days/week for 2-4 weeks). Phase 2. Research participants will be required to cover the good eye during the day in order to push the brain to use the amblyopic eye (2 hrs/day, 5 days/week for 2-4 weeks).<br>* Other names: vision training;|

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Amblyopic vision | Improvement in amblyopic vision : visual acuity and stereoacuity | 9 months | 

Secondary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Spatial vision | Improvement in spatial vision (positional acuity and spatial attention) | 9 months | 
| Temporal vision | Improvement in temporal processing and temporal vision (attentional blink) | 9 months | 

 Terms related to the study
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Keywords Provided by Centre Hospitalier Valida
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amblyopia treatment, neural plasticity, perceptual learning, vision therapy, spatial vision, video games, occlusion therapy