Establishing New Treatment Approaches for Amblyopia: Perceptual Learning and Video Games

Improving Normal and Amblyopic Vision With Video Games and Perceptual Learning

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 both adults and children with amblyopia.

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 Publications) 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 both normal and amblyopic spatial vision. This study uses psychophysical measures to study neural plasticity in both adults and children with amblyopia. Research participants will be asked to practice a visual discrimination task (perceptual learning) or 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.

Inclusion Criteria:

• adults and children with normal vision or amblyopia
• amblyopia: interocular VA difference of 0.1 logMAR or more

Exclusion Criteria:

• any ocular pathological conditions, nystagmus