Slow Binocular Reading in Amblyopic Children Is a Fellow Eye Deficit.

SIGNIFICANCE: Amblyopic children read 25% slower than their peers during binocular silent reading. PURPOSE: We compared binocular reading to fellow eye reading to determine whether slow reading in amblyopic children is due to binocular inhibition; that is, the amblyopic eye is interfering during binocular reading. METHODS: In a cross-sectional study, 38 children with amblyopia and 36 age-similar control children who completed grades 1 to 6 were enrolled. Children silently read grade-appropriate paragraphs during binocular reading and fellow eye reading while wearing ReadAlyzer eye-tracking goggles (Compevo AB, Stockholm, Sweden). Reading rate, number of forward saccades, number of regressive saccades, and fixation duration were analyzed between groups and between viewing conditions. We also examined whether sensory factors (amblyopia severity, stereoacuity, suppression) were related to slow reading. RESULTS: For amblyopic children, binocular reading versus fellow eye reading did not differ for reading rate (176 ± 60 vs. 173 ± 53 words per minute, P = .69), number of forward saccades (104 ± 35 vs. 97 ± 33 saccades/100 words, P = .18), number of regressive saccades (21 ± 15 vs. 22 ± 13 saccades/100 words, P = .75), or fixation duration (0.31 ± 0.06 vs. 0.32 ± 0.07 seconds, P = .44). As expected, amblyopic children had a slower reading rate and more forward saccades than control children during binocular reading and fellow eye reading. Slow reading was not related to any sensory factors. CONCLUSIONS: Binocular reading did not differ from fellow eye reading in amblyopic children. Thus, binocular inhibition is unlikely to play a role in slow binocular reading and is instead a fellow eye deficit that emerges from a disruption in binocular visual experience during development.

Baseline and Clinical Factors Associated with Response to Amblyopia Treatment in a Randomized Clinical Trial.

SIGNIFICANCE: We sought to identify baseline and clinical factors that were predictive of the response to amblyopia treatment. We report that binocular amblyopia treatment may be especially effective for moderate amblyopia in orthotropic children. PURPOSE: We previously reported results from the primary cohort (n = 28) enrolled in a randomized clinical trial (NCT02365090), which found that binocular amblyopia treatment was more effective than patching. Enrollment of an additional 20 children was pre-planned to provide the opportunity to examine factors that may be predictive of response to amblyopia treatment. METHODS: Forty-eight children (4 to 10 years old) were enrolled, with 24 randomized to contrast-rebalanced binocular game treatment (1 hour a day, 5 days a week) and 24 to patching treatment (2 hours a day, 7 days a week). The primary outcome was change in amblyopic eye best-corrected visual acuity at the 2-week visit. Baseline factors examined were age at enrollment, visual acuity, stereoacuity, and suppression. Clinical factors were etiology, age at diagnosis, prior treatment, and ocular alignment. RESULTS: At 2 weeks, visual acuity improvement was significantly greater with the binocular game than patching. Children with moderate amblyopia and orthotropia had more visual acuity improvement with binocular game play than did those with severe amblyopia. In addition, children who spent more time playing the binocular game had more improvement. We were not able to confidently identify any baseline or clinical factors that were associated with response to patching treatment. CONCLUSIONS: Binocular amblyopia treatment was more effective among orthotropic children with moderate amblyopia than among children with microtropia or severe amblyopia.

A Randomized Trial of Binocular Dig Rush Game Treatment for Amblyopia in Children Aged 7 to 12 Years.

PURPOSE: To compare visual acuity (VA) improvement in children aged 7 to 12 years with amblyopia treated with a binocular iPad game plus continued spectacle correction vs. continued spectacle correction alone. DESIGN: Multicenter randomized clinical trial. PARTICIPANTS: One hundred thirty-eight participants aged 7 to 12 years with amblyopia (33-72 letters, i.e., approximately 20/200 to 20/40) resulting from strabismus, anisometropia, or both. Participants were required to have at least 16 weeks of optical treatment in spectacles if needed or demonstrate no improvement in amblyopic-eye visual acuity (VA) for at least 8 weeks prior to enrollment. METHODS: Eligible participants (mean age 9.6 years, mean baseline VA of 59.6 letters, history of prior amblyopia treatment other than spectacles in 96%) were randomly assigned to treatment for 8 weeks with the dichoptic binocular Dig Rush iPad game (prescribed for 1 hour per day 5 days per week) plus spectacle wear if needed (n = 69) or continued spectacle correction alone if needed (n = 69). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Change in amblyopic-eye VA from baseline to 4 weeks, assessed by a masked examiner. RESULTS: At 4 weeks, mean amblyopic-eye VA letter score improved from baseline by 1.3 (2-sided 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.1-2.6; 0.026 logMAR) with binocular treatment and by 1.7 (2-sided 95% CI: 0.4-3.0; 0.034 logMAR) with continued spectacle correction alone. After adjusment for baseline VA, the letter score difference between groups (binocular minus control) was -0.3 (95% CI: -2.2 to 1.5, P = 0.71, difference of -0.006 logMAR). No difference in letter scores was observed between groups when the analysis was repeated after 8 weeks of treatment (adjusted mean: -0.1, 98.3% CI: -2.4 to 2.1). For the binocular group, adherence data from the iPad indicated that slightly more than half of the participants (58% and 56%) completed >75% of prescribed treatment by the 4- and 8-week visits, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: In children aged 7 to 12 years who have received previous treatment for amblyopia other than spectacles, there was no benefit to VA or stereoacuity from 4 or 8 weeks of treatment with the dichoptic binocular Dig Rush iPad game.

Fixation instability during binocular viewing in anisometropic and strabismic children.

PURPOSE: Strabismus or anisometropia disrupts binocularity and results in fixation instability, which is increased with amblyopia. Fixation instability has typically been assessed for each eye individually. Recently, vergence instability was reported in exotropic adults and monkeys during binocular viewing. We evaluated fixation instability during binocular viewing in children treated for anisometropia and/or strabismus. METHODS: 160 children age 4-12 years with treated esotropia and/or anisometropia (98 amblyopic, 62 nonamblyopic) were compared to 46 age-similar controls. Fixation instability was recorded during binocular fixation of a 0.3 deg diameter dot for 20 s using a 500 Hz remote video binocular eye tracker (EyeLink 1000; SR Research). The bivariate contour ellipse area (BCEA; log deg2) for fixation instability was calculated for each eye (nonpreferred, preferred) and for vergence instability (left eye position - right eye position). Best-corrected visual acuity, Randot Preschool stereoacuity, and extent of suppression scotoma (Worth 4-Dot) were also obtained. RESULTS: When binocularly viewing, both amblyopic and nonamblyopic children treated for anisometropia and/or strabismus had larger fixation instability and vergence instability than controls. Amblyopia primarily added to the instability of the nonpreferred eye. Anisometropic children had less nonpreferred eye instability and vergence instability than those with strabismus or combined mechanism. Nonpreferred eye instability and vergence instability were related to poorer stereoacuity and a larger suppression scotoma. Preferred eye instability was not related to any visual outcome measure. No relationships were found with visual acuity. CONCLUSIONS: Fixation instability and vergence instability during binocular viewing suggests that discordant binocular visual experience during childhood, especially strabismus, interferes with ocular motor development. Amblyopia adds to instability of the nonpreferred eye. Vergence instability may limit potential for recovery of binocular vision in these children.

From suppression to stereoacuity: a composite binocular function score for clinical research.

PURPOSE: This study aimed to validate a binocular function score that is based on common clinical measures of visual function, providing a more complete analysis of binocular outcomes, against laboratory-based dichoptic tests of threshold stereoacuity and depth of suppression. METHODS: Scores on a composite binocular function (BF) score derived from clinical stereoacuity measures (Randot Preschool Stereoacuity Test and Randot Butterfly) and the Worth 4 Dot test were determined in adults (n = 20; age 24.8 ± 7.2 years) and children (N = 77; age 8.3 ± 1.7 years) with abnormal binocular vision from strabismus or amblyopia. Adults had threshold stereoacuity measured with a novel, computerised dichoptic psychophysical test of stereopsis. Depth of suppression (dichoptic eye chart inter-ocular contrast balance test) was determined in both adults and children. RESULTS: Clinical Randot stereoacuity was measurable in 50% of adult and 61% of child participants. Threshold stereoacuity was measurable in 65% of the adult participants. The presence of suppression or simultaneous perception (flat fusion or diplopia) was measurable in all participants, enabling assignment of a BF score to all participants in both groups. In adults, the BF score was highly correlated with the psychophysical threshold stereoacuity measure (ρ = 0.71; p < 0.001). In both adults and children, there was also a high correlation between the BF score and inter-ocular contrast balance (adult ρ = 0.90; child ρ = 0.86; p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The composite BF score is a convenient and valid scale of binocularity that can be used to extend the stereoacuity measure in cohorts where nil stereoacuity is common and thus could be considered as an outcome measure in clinical trials.

A randomized trial comparing part-time patching with observation for children 3 to 10 years of age with intermittent exotropia.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the effectiveness of prescribed part-time patching for treatment of intermittent exotropia (IXT) in children. DESIGN: Multicenter, randomized clinical trial. PARTICIPANTS: Three hundred fifty-eight children 3 to <11 years of age with previously untreated (except for refractive correction) IXT and near stereoacuity of 400 seconds of arc or better were enrolled. Intermittent exotropia met the following criteria: (1) IXT at distance OR constant exotropia at distance and either IXT or exophoria at near; (2) exodeviation (tropia or phoria) of at least 15 prism diopters (PD) at distance or near by prism and alternate cover test (PACT); and (3) exodeviation of at least 10 PD at distance by PACT. METHODS: Participants were assigned randomly either to observation (no treatment for 6 months) or to patching for 3 hours daily for 5 months, with a 1-month washout period of no patching before the 6-month primary outcome examination. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The primary outcome was deterioration at either the 3-month or the 6-month follow-up visit, defined as: (1) constant exotropia measuring at least 10 PD at distance and near by simultaneous prism and cover test, and/or (2) near stereoacuity decreased by at least 2 octaves from baseline, both assessed by a masked examiner and confirmed by a retest. Participants who were prescribed any nonrandomized treatment without first meeting either deterioration criteria also were counted as having deteriorated. RESULTS: Of the 324 participants (91%) completing the 6-month primary outcome examination, deterioration occurred in 10 of the 165 participants (6.1%) in the observation group (3 of these 10 started treatment without meeting deterioration criteria) and in 1 of the 159 participants (0.6%) in the part-time patching group (difference, 5.4%; lower limit of 1-sided exact 95% confidence interval, 2.0%; P = 0.004, 1-sided hypothesis test). CONCLUSIONS: Deterioration of previously untreated childhood IXT over a 6-month period is uncommon with or without patching treatment. Although there is a slightly lower deterioration rate with patching, both management approaches are reasonable for treating children 3 to 10 years of age with IXT.

Leveraging neural plasticity for the treatment of amblyopia.

Amblyopia is a form of visual cortical impairment that arises from abnormal visual experience early in life. Most often, amblyopia is a unilateral visual impairment that can develop as a result of strabismus, anisometropia, or a combination of these conditions that result in discordant binocular experience. Characterized by reduced visual acuity and impaired binocular function, amblyopia places a substantial burden on the developing child. Although frontline treatment with glasses and patching can improve visual acuity, residual amblyopia remains for most children. Newer binocular-based therapies can elicit rapid recovery of visual acuity and may also improve stereoacuity in some children. Nevertheless, for both treatment modalities full recovery is elusive, recurrence of amblyopia is common, and improvements are negligible when treatment is administered at older ages. Insights derived from animal models about the factors that govern neural plasticity have been leveraged to develop innovative treatments for amblyopia. These novel therapies exhibit efficacy to promote recovery, and some are effective even at ages when conventional treatments fail to yield benefit. Approaches for enhancing visual system plasticity and promoting recovery from amblyopia include altering the balance between excitatory and inhibitory mechanisms, reversing the accumulation of proteins that inhibit plasticity, and harnessing the principles of metaplasticity. Although these therapies have exhibited promising results in animal models, their safety and ability to remediate amblyopia need to be evaluated in humans.

Ocular Biometric Components in Hyperopic Children and a Machine Learning-Based Model to Predict Axial Length.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the development of optical biometric components in children with hyperopia, and apply a machine-learning model to predict axial length. Methods: Children with hyperopia (+1 diopters [D] to +10 D) in 3 age groups: 3 to 5 years (n = 74), 6 to 8 years (n = 102), and 9 to 11 years (n = 36) were included. Axial length, anterior chamber depth, lens thickness, central corneal thickness, and corneal power were measured; all participants had cycloplegic refraction within 6 months. Spherical equivalent (SEQ) was calculated. A mixed-effects model was used to compare sex and age groups and adjust for interocular correlation. A classification and regression tree (CART) analysis was used to predict axial length and compared with the linear regression. Results: Mean SEQ for all 3 age groups were similar but the 9 to 11 year old group had 0.49 D less hyperopia than the 3 to 5 year old group (P < 0.001). With the exception of corneal thickness, all other ocular components had a significant sex difference (P < 0.05). The 3 to 5 year group had significantly shorter axial length and anterior chamber depth and higher corneal power than older groups (P < 0.001). Using SEQ, age, and sex, axial length can be predicted with a CART model, resulting in lower mean absolute error of 0.60 than the linear regression model (0.76). Conclusions: Despite similar values of refractive errors, ocular biometric parameters changed with age in hyperopic children, whereby axial length growth is offset by reductions in corneal power. Translational Relevance: We provide references for optical components in children with hyperopia, and a machine-learning model for convenient axial length estimation based on SEQ, age, and sex.

Motion-Defined Form Perception in Deprivation Amblyopia.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to assess motion-defined form perception, including the association with clinical and sensory factors that may drive performance, in each eye of children with deprivation amblyopia due to unilateral cataract. Methods: Coherence thresholds for orientation discrimination of motion-defined form were measured using a staircase procedure in 30 children with deprivation amblyopia and 59 age-matched controls. Visual acuity, stereoacuity, fusion, and interocular suppression were also measured. Fixation stability and fellow-eye global motion thresholds were measured in a subset of children. Results: Motion-defined form coherence thresholds were elevated in 90% of children with deprivation amblyopia when viewing with the amblyopic eye and in 40% when viewing with the fellow eye. The deficit was similar in children with a cataract that had been visually significant at birth (congenital) and in children for whom the cataract appeared later in infancy or childhood (developmental). Poorer motion-defined form perception in amblyopic eyes was associated with poorer visual acuity, poorer binocular function, greater interocular suppression, and the presence of nystagmus. Fellow-eye deficits were not associated with any of these factors, but a temporo-nasal asymmetry for global motion perception in favor of nasalward motion suggested a general disruption in motion perception. Conclusions: Deficits in motion-defined form perception are common in children with deprivation amblyopia and may reflect a problem in motion processing that relies on binocular mechanisms.

Amblyopia and the whole child.

Amblyopia is a disorder of neurodevelopment that occurs when there is discordant binocular visual experience during the first years of life. While treatments are effective in improving visual acuity, there are significant individual differences in response to treatment that cannot be attributed solely to difference in adherence. In this considerable variability in response to treatment, we argue that treatment outcomes might be optimized by utilizing deep phenotyping of amblyopic deficits to guide alternative treatment choices. In addition, an understanding of the broader knock-on effects of amblyopia on developing visually-guided skills, self-perception, and quality of life will facilitate a whole person healthcare approach to amblyopia.

Risk of recurrence after cessation of dichoptic, binocular treatment of amblyopia.

Contrast-rebalanced dichoptic games and videos have been shown to be an effective treatment for childhood amblyopia. Whether the visual acuity gains achieved with these binocular treatments are long-lasting has not been determined. In this prospective cohort study of 100 consecutive amblyopic children who improved by ≥0.2 logMAR or obtained ≤0.2 logMAR amblyopic eye visual acuity during a binocular treatment clinical trial, risk of recurrence was 24% (95% CI, 16%-35%) at up to 3 years' follow-up according to Kaplan-Meier survival analysis, which accounts for censored, truncated, and missing data. Risk of recurrence was similar among children who required additional treatment for residual amblyopia after 4-8 weeks of dichoptic treatment (n = 62 [19%]; 95% CI, 10%-34%) and those who did not (n = 38 [32%]; 95% CI, 18%-52%; P = 0.12). There was no association between recurrence and age, visual acuity at the end of binocular treatment, stereoacuity, or ocular alignment. In a secondary analysis to compare rates of recurrence with published data, risk of recurrence in the subset of children who had no additional treatment for residual amblyopia (28%) was similar to the reported recurrence after cessation of successful patching and atropine (24%) at 12 months. Children with successful binocular treatment of amblyopia require monitoring for recurrence of amblyopia.

Binocular amblyopia treatment improves manual dexterity.

PURPOSE: To determine whether deficits in manual dexterity in children with amblyopia improve after binocular amblyopia treatment and whether improvements are related to age at treatment, baseline sensory status, or amount of improvement in sensory status with treatment. METHODS: Manual dexterity (Movement Assessment Battery for Children-2), visual acuity, fusion, suppression, and stereoacuity were measured at baseline and after 4-8 weeks of binocular amblyopia in 134 children with amblyopia, including 75 children in the "younger group" (aged 3 to <7 years) and 59 in the "older group" (aged 7-10 years), and in 40 age-similar control children. RESULTS: Baseline manual dexterity standard scores of amblyopic children were significantly below those of controls in both the younger (8.81 ± 0.33 vs 11.80 ± 0.60 [P < 0.0001]) and older groups (7.19 ± 0.34 vs 9.75 ± 0.57 [P = 0.00013]). After 4-8 weeks of binocular amblyopia treatment, the younger group standard score improved to 9.85 ± 0.35 and the older group improved to 8.08 ± 0.39, but both groups remained significantly lower than controls (P = 0.03 and P = 0.01, resp.). Improvement in manual dexterity standard score was not associated with any baseline factors but was weakly correlated with the amount of visual acuity improvement (rs = 0.26; 95% CI, 0.09-0.41) CONCLUSIONS: Manual dexterity impairments are common among children with amblyopia. In our study cohort, binocular amblyopia treatment improved visual acuity and manual dexterity.

Objective assessment of control compared with clinical triple office control score in children with intermittent exotropia.

Poor control of intermittent exotropia may be used as an indication for surgery. However, control fluctuates during the day and from day to day. The standardized triple office control score (mean of three scores on a 6-point ordinal scale) is representative of repeated assessments throughout the day, but lacks validation against an objective measure of eye movements. We report the agreement between the triple office control score measured by the referring eyecare professional and lab-measured vergence instability using an EyeLink video eye tracker. Near and distance triple office control scores were moderately correlated with vergence instability. Near, but not distance, triple office control score was moderately correlated with the percentage of time intermittent exotropia was manifest during EyeLink recording. Larger triple office control scores for intermittent exotropia provide a meaningful description of larger vergence instability, supporting its use in clinical decisions and as a measure in clinical trials.

The impact of dietary long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids on respiratory illness in infants and children.

Increasing evidence suggests that intake of long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LCPUFA), especially omega-3 LCPUFA, improves respiratory health early in life. This review summarizes publications from 2009 through July 2012 that evaluated effects of fish, fish oil or LCPUFA intake during pregnancy, lactation, and early postnatal years on allergic and infectious respiratory illnesses. Studies during pregnancy found inconsistent effects in offspring: two showed no effects and three showed protective effects of omega-3 LCPUFA on respiratory illnesses or atopic dermatitis. Two studies found that infants fed breast milk with higher omega-3 LCPUFA had reduced allergic manifestations. Earlier introduction of fish improved respiratory health or reduced allergy in four studies. Three randomized controlled trials showed that providing LCPUFA during infancy or childhood reduced allergy and/or respiratory illness while one found no effect. Potential explanations for the variability among studies and possible mechanisms of action for LCPUFA in allergy and respiratory disease are discussed.

Critical period for foveal fine structure in children with regressed retinopathy of prematurity.

PURPOSE: Midgestation is a critical period in the formation of the foveal avascular zone. The authors evaluated the effects of preterm birth on foveal structure in children with regressed retinopathy of prematurity. METHODS: Children with regressed retinopathy of prematurity with normal-appearing posterior poles (n = 26) and full-term control children (n = 56) were investigated. Frequency-domain optical coherence tomography 9-mm line scans across the fovea were obtained from right eyes. Using a customized segmentation program in MATLAB, total retinal thickness and the thickness of individual retinal layer regions were measured at the fovea (0°) and throughout ± 8°. RESULTS: Total thickness of the fovea in the retinopathy of prematurity group (287.7 ± 47.6 µm) was greater than that in the control group (230.1 ± 18.2 µm). Bilinear fitting was performed to examine the relationship between total thickness and gestational age. Before 28 weeks, foveal thickness decreased with gestational age (14.3 µm/week); after 28 weeks, foveal thickness decreased only slightly (2.73 µm/week). Inner retinal layers contributed to the difference in thickness between groups more than outer layers. Foveal thickness was correlated with gestational age at birth but not with visual acuity or refractive error. CONCLUSION: Preterm birth before 28 weeks of gestational age was associated with a failure of the inner retinal layers to migrate away from the fovea, resulting in increased foveal thickness.

Web-based visual acuity testing for children.

PURPOSE: To evaluate a newly developed, web-based system for at-home pediatric visual acuity testing and to compare results with standard in-office visual acuity test results. METHODS: Children aged 3-12 years with and without visual deficits were enrolled (N = 65; 130 eyes). Monocular visual acuity was tested in-office using the ATS-HOTV (ages 3-6) or E-ETDRS (ages 7-12) protocol. Each child's family was emailed a link to a web-based version of the same visual acuity test for at-home testing. Equivalence was evaluated by using a linear mixed model to estimate the mean difference between in-office and at-home visual acuity test results and the corresponding two-sided 95% confidence interval. RESULTS: For children tested with the ATS-HOTV protocol, the mean difference between in-office and at-home visual acuity test results was 0.01 log MAR (95% CI, -0.06 to 0.09). For children tested with the E-ETDRS protocol, the mean difference was 0.04 log MAR (95% CI, -0.06 to 0.14). CONCLUSIONS: At-home, web-based ATS-HOTV and E-ETDRS visual acuity test results had excellent concordance with in-office visual acuity testing. If the burden of travel is significant, at-home testing of children's visual acuity may provide the information needed to continue care when it might otherwise be discontinued or delayed.

Applying Normal PedEyeQ Thresholds to Assess Eye-related Quality of Life among Children with Strabismus.

PURPOSE: To determine proportions of children with strabismus with below-normal Pediatric Eye Questionnaire (PedEyeQ) scores. METHODS: Ninety-eight children with strabismus (70 aged 5-11 years; 28 aged 12-17 years) were evaluated. Children completed the Child 5-11 or 12-17 PedEyeQ (Functional Vision, Bothered by Eyes/vision, Social, and Frustration/worry domains). Parents completed the Proxy (same domains plus Eye Care) and Parent PedEyeQ (Impact on Parent and Family, Worry about Child's Eye Condition, Worry about Child's Self-perception and Interactions, and Worry about Functional Vision domains). Previously published normal (5th percentile) thresholds were applied to calculate proportions with below-normal scores for each domain. RESULTS: For the Child PedEyeQ more than 20% of 5- to 11-year-olds scored below normal, on all but the Social domain, whereas more than 50% of 12- to 17-year-olds scored below normal on all domains. On the Proxy PedEyeQ, more than 50% scored below normal on all domains when parents reported on 5- to 11-year-olds and 12- to 17-year-olds. For the Parent PedEyeQ, more than 50% of the parents of both 5- to 11-year-olds and 12- to 17-year-olds scored below normal on all domains. CONCLUSIONS: The majority of children with strabismus have below-normal PedEyeQ scores, particularly children aged 12-17 years.

Dichoptic and Monocular Visual Acuity in Amblyopia.

PURPOSE: Standard-of-care assessment for children with amblyopia includes measuring amblyopic eye best-corrected visual acuity (AE BCVA) with the fellow eye occluded. By definition, this abolishes the interocular suppression fundamental to amblyopia. Thus, measured AE BCVA may not accurately represent that eye's contribution to natural binocular viewing. We compared dichoptic and monocular AE BCVA and examined whether any differences were associated with eye-hand coordination or reading speed. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. METHODS: Dichoptic and monocular AE BCVA of children aged 6-12 years (42 with amblyopia, 24 with recovered normal AE BCVA, 30 control) were measured. Stereoacuity, suppression, eye-hand coordination, and reading speed were also assessed. RESULTS: Overall, 81% of amblyopic children had worse dichoptic than monocular AE BCVA (mean difference=0.15±0.11 logMAR; P < .0001), and 71% of children with recovered normal AE BCVA had worse dichoptic than monocular AE BCVA (mean difference = 0.20±0.17 logMAR, P < .0001). Controls had no significant difference. The difference between dichoptic and monocular AE BCVA was correlated with performance in standardized aiming/catching (r = -0.48, 95% CI -0.72, -0.14) and manual dexterity tasks (r = -0.37, 95% CI -0.62, -0.06), and with reading speed (r = -0.38, 95% CI -0.65, -0.03). CONCLUSIONS: Dichoptic AE BCVA deficits were worse than monocular AE BCVA deficits and were associated with reduced stereoacuity and suppression, consistent with the hypothesis that binocular dysfunction plays a role. Further, impaired eye-hand coordination and slow reading were associated with dichoptic, but not monocular, AE BCVA. Some children with amblyopia may benefit from extra time for school tasks requiring eye-hand coordination or reading.

Randomized clinical trial of streaming dichoptic movies versus patching for treatment of amblyopia in children aged 3 to 7 years.

Contrast-rebalanced dichoptic movies have been shown to be an effective binocular treatment for amblyopia in the laboratory. Yet, at-home therapy is a more practical approach. In a randomized clinical trial, we compared dichoptic movies, streamed at-home on a handheld 3D-enabled game console, versus patching as amblyopia treatment. Sixty-five amblyopic children (3-7 years; 20/32-125) were randomly assigned to one of two parallel arms, binocular treatment (3 movies/week) or patching (14 h/week). The primary outcome, change in best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) at the 2-week visit was completed by 28 and 30, respectively. After the primary outcome, both groups of children had the option to complete up to 6 weeks of binocular treatment. At the 2-week primary outcome visit, BCVA had improved in the movie (0.07 ± 0.02 logMAR; p < .001) and patching (0.06 ± 0.01 logMAR; p < 0.001) groups. There was no significant difference between groups (CI95%: - 0.02 to 0.04; p = .48). Visual acuity improved in both groups with binocular treatment up to 6 weeks (0.15 and 0.18 logMAR improvement, respectively). This novel, at-home, binocular movie treatment improved amblyopic eye BCVA after 2 weeks (similar to patching), with additional improvement up to 6 weeks. Repeated binocular visual experience with contrast-rebalanced binocular movies provides an additional treatment option for amblyopia.Clincaltrials.gov identifier: NCT03825107 (31/01/2019).

Recent Advances in Screening and Treatment for Amblyopia.

Amblyopia is the most common cause of monocular visual impairment in children, with a prevalence of 2-3%. Not only is visual acuity reduced in one eye but binocular vision is affected, fellow eye deficits may be present, eye-hand coordination and reading can be affected, and self-perception may be diminished. New technologies for preschool vision screening hold promise for accessible, early, and accurate detection of amblyopia. Together with recent advances in our theoretical understanding of amblyopia and technological advances in amblyopia treatment, we anticipate improved visual outcomes for children affected by this very common eye condition. This article is based on previously conducted studies and does not contain any new studies with human participants or animals performed by any of the authors.