Incorporation of videogames into the conventional treatment for functional amblyopia

Abstract

Objective: Assess the effectiveness of videogames for students suffering from functional amblyopia.

Methods: A clinical record was developed for each patient, which included complete ophthalmological examination, visual acuity evaluation with the suitable test for each age, and determination of the presence of suppression by the red filter test and the Worth lights test. Each test was conducted individually according to the type and severity of amblyopia, and the corresponding refraction was indicated. The patients were divided into two groups: Group A received traditional amblyopia therapy, whereas Group B underwent traditional amblyopia treatment combined with the incorporation of videogames.

Results: Group A showed a predominance of patients with initial visual acuity between 0.2 - 0.4 (50%), which increased two lines or more in 55%. However, in Group B initial visual acuity ranged between 0.2 - 0.4 in 56.5%. Six months after treatment, sensory results were 91.3% suppression reduction in Group B and 75% in Group A.

Conclusion: Visual therapy proved effective when combined with videogames: visual acuity improved and suppression was reduced. It is thus a suitable tool to complement the traditional visual therapy for amblyopia.

Key words: Amblyopia; binocular therapy; vision screening; videogame; eye care; suppression.