Binocular iPad treatment for amblyopia in preschool children.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

Recent experimental evidence supports a role for binocular visual experience in the treatment of amblyopia. The purpose of this study was to determine whether repeated binocular visual experience with dichoptic iPad games could effectively treat amblyopia in preschool children.

METHODS:

A total of 50 consecutive amblyopic preschool children 3-6.9 years of age were assigned to play sham iPad games (first 5 children) or binocular iPad games (n = 45) for at least 4 hours per week for 4 weeks. Thirty (67%) children in the binocular iPad group and 4 (80%) in the sham iPad group were also treated with patching at a different time of day. Visual acuity and stereoacuity were assessed at baseline, at 4 weeks, and at 3 months after the cessation of game play.

RESULTS:

The sham iPad group had no significant improvement in visual acuity (t4 = 0.34, P = 0.75). In the binocular iPad group, mean visual acuity (plus or minus standard error) improved from 0.43 ± 0.03 at baseline to 0.34 ± 0.03 logMAR at 4 weeks (n = 45; paired t44 = 4.93; P < 0.0001). Stereoacuity did not significantly improve (t44 = 1.35, P = 0.18). Children who played the binocular iPad games for ≥8 hours (≥50% compliance) had significantly more visual acuity improvement than children who played 0-4 hours (t43 = 4.21, P = 0.0001).

CONCLUSIONS:

Repeated binocular experience, provided by dichoptic iPad game play, was more effective than sham iPad game play as a treatment for amblyopia in preschool children.

• Authors: Eileen E Birch, Simone L Li, Reed M Jost, Sarah E Morale, Angie De La Cruz, David Stager Jr, Lori Dao, David R Stager Sr
• Journal: Journal of AAPOS : the official publication of the American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus (J AAPOS) Vol. 19 Issue 1 Pg. 6-11 (Feb 2015) ISSN: 1528-3933 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 25727578 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)
• Copyright: Copyright © 2015 American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Topics

• Amblyopia (physiopathology, therapy)
• Child
• Child, Preschool
• Computers, Handheld
• Depth Perception (physiology)
• Female
• Humans
• Male
• Video Games
• Vision, Binocular (physiology)
• Visual Acuity (physiology)