A pilot non-randomized trial of smartphone-based anaglyph system for treatment of adult amblyopia through VR (Virtual Reality)

ABSTRACT

Purpose: To evaluate the effectiveness of amblyopia treatment through a smartphone?based anaglyph system by virtual reality (VR) in adult patients. Methods: A total of 10 subjects diagnosed with anisometropic amblyopia were enrolled during the study period. Best Corrected Visual Acuity (BCVA), stereoacuity, and contrast acuity were evaluated during three visits (at presentation, 3 months and 6 months) of smartphone?based anaglyph video run in the VR mode. All the amblyogenic factors including stereopsis, color vision, and contrast acuity were compared using Friedman two?way analysis of variance. Statistical significance was considered if P < 0.05. Results: Mean BCVA in amblyopic eye improved significantly from a logMAR value of 0.73 ± 0.64 before Virtual reality vision therapy (VRVT) to a post?training VRVT value of 0.48 ± 0.44 (P < 0.01). Mean stereoacuity changed from a value of 560.00 ± 301.58 before VRVT to a value of 263.00 ± 143.58 seconds of arc after training (VRVT) (P < 0.01). Mean accommodation changes from a value of 15.00 ± 7.40 before training or VRVT to value of 12.60 ± 6.10 cm after training (P < 0.01). Mean contrast acuity changes from a value of 1.21 ± 0.72 at presentation to a value of 1.52 ± 0.49 log unit after VRVT. Conclusion: A smartphone?based anaglyph system using VR vision therapy appears to be an effective treatment option for amblyopia in adults.