Case Series
Eye (2006) 20, 375–378. doi:10.1038/sj.eye.6701883; published online 15 April 2005
Preliminary results from the use of the novel Interactive Binocular Treatment (I-BiT™) system, in the treatment of strabismic and anisometropic amblyopia
P E Waddingham1,2, T K H Butler1, S V Cobb2, A D R Moody2, I F Comaish1, S M Haworth1, R M Gregson1, I M Ash1, S M Brown1, R M Eastgate2 and G D Griffiths2
- 1Directorate of Ophthalmology, 'A' Floor, Eye, Ear, Nose and Throat Centre, Queen's Medical Centre, Nottingham, UK
- 2Virtual Reality Applications Research Team (VIRART), University of Nottingham, School of 4 M, University Park, Nottingham, UK
Correspondence: PE Waddingham, VIRART, University of Nottingham, School of 4M, University Park, Nottingham NG7 2RD, UK. Tel: +44 0 115 951 4042; Fax: +44 0 115 846 6771; E-mail: epxpes@nottingham.ac.uk
Received 15 November 2004; Accepted 22 February 2005; Published online 15 April 2005.
Abstract
Background
We have developed a novel application of adapted virtual reality (VR) technology, for the binocular treatment of amblyopia. We describe the use of the system in six children.
Methods
Subjects consisted of three conventional treatment 'failures' and three conventional treatment 'refusers', with a mean age of 6.25 years (5.42–7.75 years). Treatment consisted of watching video clips and playing interactive games with specifically designed software to allow streamed binocular image presentation.
Results
Initial vision in the amblyopic eye ranged from 6/12 to 6/120 and post-treatment 6/7.5 to 6/24-1. Total treatment time was a mean of 4.4 h. Five out of six children have shown an improvement in their vision (average increase of 10 letters), including those who had previously failed to comply with conventional occlusion.
Conclusions
Improvements in vision were demonstrable within a short period of time, in some children after 1 h of treatment. This system is an exciting and promising application of VR technology as a new treatment for amblyopia.
Keywords:
amblyopia, binocular treatment, virtual reality (VR), games
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