AmblyopiaNCT05522972
Establishing New Treatment Approaches for Amblyopia: Perceptual Learning and Video Games
A study testing Video Game Vision Training, Perceptual Learning and Occlusion Therapy in people with Amblyopia, run by Nova Southeastern University at 1 site in United States.
Trial summary
Amblyopia, a developmental abnormality that impairs spatial vision, is a major cause of vision loss, resulting in reduced visual acuity and reduced sensitivity to contrast. This study uses psychophysical measures to study neural plasticity in both adults and children with amblyopia. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Any ageHealthy volunteers can take part
- Conditions the study is for
- Amblyopia
- What is being tested?
- Video Game Vision Training, Perceptual Learning and Occlusion Therapy
- Type of treatment
- Lifestyle or therapy programme
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 180 participants
- Where
- 1 siteUnited States
- Study dates
- 13 Sep 2022to 31 Aug 2029
- Phase
- Interventional
- Are there results?
- Not yet: the study is under way
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages Any age
- All sexes
- Healthy volunteers accepted
- Child, Adult, Older adult
Who may be able to join
- adults and children with normal vision or amblyopia
- amblyopia: interocular VA difference of 0.1 logMAR or more
Who cannot join
- any ocular pathological conditions, nystagmus
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country. Contact the study team or a site near you to ask about taking part.
United States1 site, 1 recruiting
- Recruiting
Nova Southeastern University College of Optometry
Fort Lauderdale, Florida, 33328
Roger Li, OD, PhD, 954-262-1436, wli@nova.edu
About this study
Official title: Improving Normal and Amblyopic Vision With Video Games and Perceptual Learning
Amblyopia, a developmental abnormality that impairs spatial vision, is a major cause of vision loss, resulting in reduced visual acuity and reduced sensitivity to contrast. This study uses psychophysical measures to study neural plasticity in both adults and children with amblyopia.
Read the detailed description
Amblyopia, a developmental abnormality that impairs spatial vision, is a major cause of vision loss, resulting in reduced visual acuity and reduced sensitivity to contrast. Our previous findings (see Publications) show that the adult amblyopic brain is still plastic and malleable, suggesting that active approach is potential useful in treating amblyopia.The goal of this project is to assess the limits and mechanisms of neural plasticity in both normal and amblyopic spatial vision. This study uses psychophysical measures to study neural plasticity in both adults and children with amblyopia. Research participants will be asked to practice a visual discrimination task (perceptual learning) or to play video games with the amblyopic eye for a period of time. A range of visual functions will be monitored during the course of treatment.
- Conditions
- Amblyopia
- Being tested
- Video Game Vision Training, Perceptual Learning, Occlusion Therapy
- Keywords
- perceptual learning, video games, visual plasticity, amblyopia treatment, pathophysiology of amblyopia, vision training, stereoacuity, strabismus
- Medical subject headings
- Amblyopia, Strabismus
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Video Game Vision TrainingBehavioural
A new approach for improving amblyopic vision using video games
Perceptual LearningBehavioural
A new approach for improving amblyopic vision with perceptual learning
Occlusion TherapyBehavioural
Conventional treatment for amblyopia
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Video Games | Experimental | Participants will be required to play video games for a period of time: 1-2 hrs per session, 4-5 sessions/week for ~1-6 months Receives: Behavioral: Video Game Vision Training |
| Perceptual learning | Experimental | Participants will be required to practice a visual discrimination task (e.g. visual acuity, position acuity, contrast sensitivity, \& stereoacuity) for a period of time: 1-2 hrs per session, 4-5 sessions/week for ~1-6 months Receives: Behavioral: Perceptual Learning |
| Occlusion therapy | Active comparator | Participants will be required to cover the dominant eye during the day in order to push the brain to use the fellow amblyopic eye: 1-2 hrs per session, 4-5 sessions/week for ~1-6 months Receives: Behavioral: Occlusion Therapy |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Change in visual acuity before and after the intervention
"Visual acuity", the gold standard for vision testing, will be measured. Participants will be asked to read letters on a LogMAR letter chart. The smallest letters that can be read correspond to visual acuity (e.g., Snellen acuity of 20/20, letter-stroke width = 1 minute of arc).
Measured: 9 months
Change in stereoacuity before and after the intervention
"Stereoacuity" will be measured psychophysically using a new stereoacuity function test (1.25, 2.5, 5, 10, 15, \& 20 cycles per degree) developed in our previous studies (Li et al 2016). A custom-built 4-mirror haploscope will be used to present a stereogram to each eye. Stereoacuity is the smallest stereo disparity that can be seen in binocular vision (in the unit of seconds of arc, arcsec).
The conventional stereoacuity tests (including Randot Stereoacuity Test, Stereofly Test \& Preschool Stereo Test) will also be used to measure stereoacuity. Participants will be asked to wear a pair of 3D glasses and to identify the target 3D pictures at various 3D levels. The smallest 3D disparities that can be seen correspond to stereoacuity (e.g. normal range of stereoacuity: 50 seconds of arc or better).
Measured: 9 months
Secondary outcomes (2)
Change in contrast sensitivity before and after the intervention
"Contrast sensitivity", the ability to detect low contrast / brightness, will be measured psychophysically for a range of spatial frequencies (1.25, 2.5, 5, 10, \& 20 cycles per degree). Visual stimuli at different contrast levels will be displayed on a monitor screen. The smallest detectable stimulus contrast level will be measured in the unit of cd/m2.
Measured: 9 months
Change in positional (or Vernier) acuity before and after the intervention
"Positional acuity", the ability to detect a subtle positional offset between visual stimuli, will be measured psychophysically. Visual stimuli with different amount of positional offsets will be displayed on a monitor screen. The smallest detectable stimulus offset will be measured as position acuity, in the unit of seconds of arc.
Measured: 9 months
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted31 Aug 2022
- Study start13 Sep 2022
- Primary completion31 Aug 2029 (estimated)
- Study completion31 Aug 2029 (estimated)
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Publications (12)Papers the sponsor has linked to this study.
- Other trials for AmblyopiaStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase N/A
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Crossover
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Enrolment
- 180 participants (estimated)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Nova Southeastern University
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Principal investigator, Roger W. Li, Nova Southeastern University
- Investigators
- Roger W Li, OD, PhD, Principal investigator, Nova Southeastern University College of Optometry
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT05522972
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- 2022-344
- Status last verified
- Dec 2025
- First submitted
- 24 Aug 2022
- Last updated
- 16 Dec 2025
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- No
Publications
Li RW, Li BZ, Chat SW, Patel SS, Chung STL, Levi DM. Playing three-dimensional video games boosts stereo vision. Curr Biol. 2024 Jun 3;34(11):R524-R525. doi: 10.1016/j.cub.2024.04.032.
PubMed 38834021Leung TW, Li RW, Kee CS. Brief Adaptation to Astigmatism Reduces Meridional Anisotropy in Contrast Sensitivity. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 2023 Sep 1;64(12):4. doi: 10.1167/iovs.64.12.4.
PubMed 37656478Li RW, Levi DM. Characterizing the mechanisms of improvement for position discrimination in adult amblyopia. J Vis. 2004 Jun 1;4(6):476-87. doi: 10.1167/4.6.7.
PubMed 15330715Li RW, Klein SA, Levi DM. Prolonged perceptual learning of positional acuity in adult amblyopia: perceptual template retuning dynamics. J Neurosci. 2008 Dec 24;28(52):14223-9. doi: 10.1523/JNEUROSCI.4271-08.2008.
PubMed 19109504Li RW, Provost A, Levi DM. Extended perceptual learning results in substantial recovery of positional acuity and visual acuity in juvenile amblyopia. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 2007 Nov;48(11):5046-51. doi: 10.1167/iovs.07-0324.
PubMed 17962456Li RW, Young KG, Hoenig P, Levi DM. Perceptual learning improves visual performance in juvenile amblyopia. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 2005 Sep;46(9):3161-8. doi: 10.1167/iovs.05-0286.
PubMed 16123415Li RW, Ngo CV, Levi DM. Relieving the attentional blink in the amblyopic brain with video games. Sci Rep. 2015 Feb 26;5:8483. doi: 10.1038/srep08483.
PubMed 25715870Li RW, Ngo C, Nguyen J, Levi DM. Video-game play induces plasticity in the visual system of adults with amblyopia. PLoS Biol. 2011 Aug;9(8):e1001135. doi: 10.1371/journal.pbio.1001135. Epub 2011 Aug 30.
PubMed 21912514Li RW, Tran KD, Bui JK, Antonucci MM, Ngo CV, Levi DM. Improving Adult Amblyopic Vision with Stereoscopic 3-Dimensional Video Games. Ophthalmology. 2018 Oct;125(10):1660-1662. doi: 10.1016/j.ophtha.2018.04.025. Epub 2018 May 18. No abstract available.
PubMed 29779684Li RW, Tran TT, Craven AP, Leung TW, Chat SW, Levi DM. Sharpening coarse-to-fine stereo vision by perceptual learning: asymmetric transfer across the spatial frequency spectrum. R Soc Open Sci. 2016 Jan 20;3(1):150523. doi: 10.1098/rsos.150523. eCollection 2016 Jan.
PubMed 26909178Li RW, So K, Wu TH, Craven AP, Tran TT, Gustafson KM, Levi DM. Monocular blur alters the tuning characteristics of stereopsis for spatial frequency and size. R Soc Open Sci. 2016 Sep 21;3(9):160273. doi: 10.1098/rsos.160273. eCollection 2016 Sep.
PubMed 27703690Li RW, Levi DM, Klein SA. Perceptual learning improves efficiency by re-tuning the decision 'template' for position discrimination. Nat Neurosci. 2004 Feb;7(2):178-83. doi: 10.1038/nn1183. Epub 2004 Jan 18.
PubMed 14730311
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 16 Dec 2025. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Improving Normal and Amblyopic Vision With Video Games and Perceptual Learning
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT05522972
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- 2022-344
- Conditions
- Amblyopia
- Keywords
- perceptual learning, video games, visual plasticity, amblyopia treatment, pathophysiology of amblyopia, vision training, stereoacuity, strabismus
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Recruiting
- Enrolment
- 180 participants (estimated)
- Lead sponsor
- Nova Southeastern UniversityUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- 13 Sep 2022 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 31 Aug 2029 (estimated)
- Study completion
- 31 Aug 2029 (estimated)
- First posted
- 31 Aug 2022 (actual)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
Amblyopia, a developmental abnormality that impairs spatial vision, is a major cause of vision loss, resulting in reduced visual acuity and reduced sensitivity to contrast. This study uses psychophysical measures to study neural plasticity in both adults and children with amblyopia.
Detailed description
Amblyopia, a developmental abnormality that impairs spatial vision, is a major cause of vision loss, resulting in reduced visual acuity and reduced sensitivity to contrast. Our previous findings (see Publications) show that the adult amblyopic brain is still plastic and malleable, suggesting that active approach is potential useful in treating amblyopia.The goal of this project is to assess the limits and mechanisms of neural plasticity in both normal and amblyopic spatial vision. This study uses psychophysical measures to study neural plasticity in both adults and children with amblyopia. Research participants will be asked to practice a visual discrimination task (perceptual learning) or to play video games with the amblyopic eye for a period of time. A range of visual functions will be monitored during the course of treatment.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Crossover
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Number of arms
- 3
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Video Games | Experimental | Behavioral: Video Game Vision TrainingParticipants will be required to play video games for a period of time: 1-2 hrs per session, 4-5 sessions/week for ~1-6 months |
| Perceptual learning | Experimental | Behavioral: Perceptual LearningParticipants will be required to practice a visual discrimination task (e.g. visual acuity, position acuity, contrast sensitivity, \& stereoacuity) for a period of time: 1-2 hrs per session, 4-5 sessions/week for ~1-6 months |
| Occlusion therapy | Active comparator | Behavioral: Occlusion TherapyParticipants will be required to cover the dominant eye during the day in order to push the brain to use the fellow amblyopic eye: 1-2 hrs per session, 4-5 sessions/week for ~1-6 months |
Who may qualify
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Accepted
- Age groups
- Child, Adult, Older adult
Key inclusion criteria (2 listed)
- adults and children with normal vision or amblyopia
- amblyopia: interocular VA difference of 0.1 logMAR or more
Key exclusion criteria (1 listed)
- any ocular pathological conditions, nystagmus
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| Video Game Vision TrainingA new approach for improving amblyopic vision using video games | Behavioural | Video Games |
| Perceptual LearningA new approach for improving amblyopic vision with perceptual learning | Behavioural | Perceptual learning |
| Occlusion TherapyConventional treatment for amblyopia | Behavioural | Occlusion therapy |
Primary outcome
Change in visual acuity before and after the intervention
Time frame: 9 months
"Visual acuity", the gold standard for vision testing, will be measured. Participants will be asked to read letters on a LogMAR letter chart. The smallest letters that can be read correspond to visual acuity (e.g., Snellen acuity of 20/20, letter-stroke width = 1 minute of arc).
Change in stereoacuity before and after the intervention
Time frame: 9 months
"Stereoacuity" will be measured psychophysically using a new stereoacuity function test (1.25, 2.5, 5, 10, 15, \& 20 cycles per degree) developed in our previous studies (Li et al 2016). A custom-built 4-mirror haploscope will be used to present a stereogram to each eye. Stereoacuity is the smallest stereo disparity that can be seen in binocular vision (in the unit of seconds of arc, arcsec). The conventional stereoacuity tests (including Randot Stereoacuity Test, Stereofly Test \& Preschool Stereo Test) will also be used to measure stereoacuity. Participants will be asked to wear a pair of 3D glasses and to identify the target 3D pictures at various 3D levels. The smallest 3D disparities that can be seen correspond to stereoacuity (e.g. normal range of stereoacuity: 50 seconds of arc or better).
2 secondary outcomes
Change in contrast sensitivity before and after the intervention
Time frame: 9 months
Change in positional (or Vernier) acuity before and after the intervention
Time frame: 9 months
Results and safety
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 16 Dec 2025.
- Background: PubMed 38834021Li RW, Li BZ, Chat SW, Patel SS, Chung STL, Levi DM. Playing three-dimensional video games boosts stereo vision. Curr Biol. 2024 Jun 3;34(11):R524-R525. doi: 10.1016/j.cub.2024.04.032.
- Background: PubMed 37656478Leung TW, Li RW, Kee CS. Brief Adaptation to Astigmatism Reduces Meridional Anisotropy in Contrast Sensitivity. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 2023 Sep 1;64(12):4. doi: 10.1167/iovs.64.12.4.
- Background: PubMed 15330715Li RW, Levi DM. Characterizing the mechanisms of improvement for position discrimination in adult amblyopia. J Vis. 2004 Jun 1;4(6):476-87. doi: 10.1167/4.6.7.
- Background: PubMed 19109504Li RW, Klein SA, Levi DM. Prolonged perceptual learning of positional acuity in adult amblyopia: perceptual template retuning dynamics. J Neurosci. 2008 Dec 24;28(52):14223-9. doi: 10.1523/JNEUROSCI.4271-08.2008.
- Background: PubMed 17962456Li RW, Provost A, Levi DM. Extended perceptual learning results in substantial recovery of positional acuity and visual acuity in juvenile amblyopia. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 2007 Nov;48(11):5046-51. doi: 10.1167/iovs.07-0324.
- Background: PubMed 16123415Li RW, Young KG, Hoenig P, Levi DM. Perceptual learning improves visual performance in juvenile amblyopia. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 2005 Sep;46(9):3161-8. doi: 10.1167/iovs.05-0286.
- Background: PubMed 25715870Li RW, Ngo CV, Levi DM. Relieving the attentional blink in the amblyopic brain with video games. Sci Rep. 2015 Feb 26;5:8483. doi: 10.1038/srep08483.
- Background: PubMed 21912514Li RW, Ngo C, Nguyen J, Levi DM. Video-game play induces plasticity in the visual system of adults with amblyopia. PLoS Biol. 2011 Aug;9(8):e1001135. doi: 10.1371/journal.pbio.1001135. Epub 2011 Aug 30.
- Background: PubMed 29779684Li RW, Tran KD, Bui JK, Antonucci MM, Ngo CV, Levi DM. Improving Adult Amblyopic Vision with Stereoscopic 3-Dimensional Video Games. Ophthalmology. 2018 Oct;125(10):1660-1662. doi: 10.1016/j.ophtha.2018.04.025. Epub 2018 May 18. No abstract available.
- Background: PubMed 26909178Li RW, Tran TT, Craven AP, Leung TW, Chat SW, Levi DM. Sharpening coarse-to-fine stereo vision by perceptual learning: asymmetric transfer across the spatial frequency spectrum. R Soc Open Sci. 2016 Jan 20;3(1):150523. doi: 10.1098/rsos.150523. eCollection 2016 Jan.
- Background: PubMed 27703690Li RW, So K, Wu TH, Craven AP, Tran TT, Gustafson KM, Levi DM. Monocular blur alters the tuning characteristics of stereopsis for spatial frequency and size. R Soc Open Sci. 2016 Sep 21;3(9):160273. doi: 10.1098/rsos.160273. eCollection 2016 Sep.
- Background: PubMed 14730311Li RW, Levi DM, Klein SA. Perceptual learning improves efficiency by re-tuning the decision 'template' for position discrimination. Nat Neurosci. 2004 Feb;7(2):178-83. doi: 10.1038/nn1183. Epub 2004 Jan 18.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: No
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Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part.
Roger W Li, OD, PhD principal investigator
Nova Southeastern University College of Optometry
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing Video Game Vision Training, Perceptual Learning and Occlusion Therapy in people with Amblyopia, run by Nova Southeastern University at 1 site in United States.
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 2 inclusion and 1 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: looking for participants now, as of the sponsor's last update on 16 Dec 2025. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 1 site in United States. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
Are results available for this study?
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
Contact Roger W Li, OD, PhD (954-262-1436, wli@nova.edu), or a site near the patient. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Change in visual acuity before and after the intervention (time frame: 9 months). The study lists 2 primary outcomes in all. It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
On the ClinicalTrials.gov record for NCT05522972, which also lists 12 linked publications.
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 16 Dec 2025.