Perceptual Learning in Enhanced Amblyopia Treatment
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Perceptual Learning in Enhanced Amblyopia Treatment (PLEAT): an exploratory randomised control trial in the treatment of amblyopia.
IRAS ID
165562
Contact name
Marie Cleary
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde
ISRCTN Number
ISRCTN14022536
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 6 months, 0 days
Research summary
Amblyopia, also known as "lazy eye", is the most common childhood cause of visual function loss, affecting ~3-4% of the total population. Ambylopia is caused by problems such as an eye misalignment (squint) or difference in image quality between the two eyes (one eye focusing better than the other) leading to abnormal development of the visual areas of the brain during childhood. If untreated, amblyopia leads to permanent visual deficits and in many cases a loss or impairment of binocular (3D) vision.
A common consequence of amblyopia is that the image from the amblyopic eye is ignored when both eyes are open, ultimately resulting in a loss or impairment of stereo (3D) vision. We have found that if we present different amounts of information to each eye then the brain uses the lazy eye instead of ignoring it. This discovery has been developed into an assessment technique (viewing images through ‘gaming’ goggles) which measures how much difference in information sent between the eyes is required to reach a balance point where both eyes can work together. In a previous pilot study (IRAS ref 38918/245041/1/96) we successfully demonstrated that the gaming goggles can be used to improve quality of vision and 3D perception in amblyopic children who had no further improvement with conventional patching treatment. This study aims to conduct an exploratory randomised controlled trial in amblyopic children after conventional treatment, to compare viewing modalities for the gaming goggles treatment - to determine whether the special goggles viewing modality that encourages binocular cooperation provides comparable or better treatment results than simply playing the game while looking through the lazy eye alone.
REC name
West of Scotland REC 1
REC reference
15/WS/0015
Date of REC Opinion
26 Feb 2015
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion