Dichoptic treatment for amblyopia in children aged 8 to 12
Official title: A Randomized Trial of Dichoptic Treatment for Amblyopia in Children 8 to 12 Years of Age
Run by Jaeb Center for Health Research · NCT06524882 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is testing two new treatments for lazy eye in kids aged 8 to 12 to see if they can improve their vision better than just wearing glasses.
Quick facts
| Phase | Phase 3 |
|---|---|
| Study type | Interventional |
| Ages | 8 Years to 12 Years |
| Sex | All |
| Enrollment | 252 (estimated) |
| Sponsor | Jaeb Center for Health Research Academic / other |
| Locations | 58 sites (Birmingham, Alabama and 57 other locations) |
| Status | Recruiting |
| Started | October 22, 2024 |
| Main results expected | January 1, 2028 |
| Study ends | May 1, 2028 |
| Registry record updated | November 2, 2026 |
| Trial ID | NCT06524882 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
Is this trial a fit for you?
✓Likely a good fit
Ideal candidates are children aged 8 to 12 with amblyopia characterized by specific visual acuity differences between their eyes.
✕Probably not a fit
Patients with amblyopia who do not meet the specified visual acuity criteria or those outside the age range may not benefit from this study.
A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.
What this trial studies
This clinical trial evaluates the effectiveness of two dichoptic treatments, Luminopia and Vivid Vision, for children aged 8 to 12 with amblyopia. Participants will be randomly assigned to receive one of the treatments or continue with optical correction alone. Clinical assessments will be conducted at 9 and 18 weeks post-randomization to measure visual acuity improvements. If participants initially assigned to optical correction alone show significant interocular differences, they may be offered a chance to switch to one of the dichoptic therapies.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this treatment could significantly improve visual acuity in children with amblyopia, potentially leading to better long-term visual outcomes.
How similar studies have gone: Previous studies have shown promise with dichoptic treatments for amblyopia, indicating potential for success in this approach.
Who can join: the full rules
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria:
1. Age 8 to \<13 years.
2. VA, measured in each eye without cycloplegia in current refractive correction (if applicable) using the E-ETDRS VA protocol on a study-approved device displaying single surrounded optotypes, as follows:
1. VA in the amblyopic eye 20/40 to 20/200 inclusive (33 to 72 letters with E-ETDRS).
2. VA in the fellow eye 20/25 or better (≥ 78 letters with E-ETDRS).
3. Interocular difference ≥ 3 logMAR lines (≥ 15 letters) i.e., amblyopic eye VA at least 3 logMAR lines worse than fellow eye VA).
3. Amblyopia associated with strabismus, anisometropia, or both (previously treated or untreated).
1. Criteria for strabismic amblyopia: At least one of the following must be met:
* Presence of a heterotropia on examination at distance or near fixation (with optical correction), must be \<=5 prism diopters (∆) by SPCT at distance and near fixation.
* Documented history of strabismus which is no longer present (which in the judgment of the investigator could have caused amblyopia).
2. Criteria for anisometropia: At least one of the following criteria must be met:
* ≥1.00 D difference between eyes in spherical equivalent (SE).
* ≥1.50 D difference in astigmatism between corresponding meridians in the two eyes.
3. Criteria for combined-mechanism: Both of the following criteria must be met:
* A criterion for strabismus is met (see above).
* ≥1.00 D difference between eyes in SE OR ≥1.50 D difference in astigmatism between corresponding meridians in the two eyes.
4. No more than 2 weeks (cumulative) of prior dichoptic treatment
5. No treatment with cycloplegic eyedrops (e.g., atropine) in the past 2 weeks; other treatments allowed up to enrollment but then must be discontinued.
6. Refractive correction is required (single vision lenses or contact lenses) for any of the following refractive errors based on a cycloplegic refraction completed within the last 7 months:
* Hypermetropia of 2.50 D or more by SE
* Myopia of amblyopic eye of 0.50D or more SE
* Astigmatism of 1.00D or more
* Anisometropia of more than 0.50D SE
NOTE: Children with cycloplegic refractive errors that do not fall within the requirements above for refractive correction may be given refractive correction at investigator discretion but must follow the study-specified prescribing guidelines, as detailed below.
NOTE: Monocular or binocular contact lens wear is allowed provided the contact lenses meet the refractive error correction requirements below. For each child, all testing must be performed using the same form of optical correction (i.e., no changing between contacts and spectacles).
1. Spectacles/contact lens correction prescribing instructions referenced to the cycloplegic refraction completed within the last 7 months:
* SE must be within 0.50D of fully correcting the anisometropia (if new glasses are prescribed, reduction in plus sphere must be symmetric in the two eyes).
* SE must not be under corrected by more than 1.50D SE.
* Cylinder power in both eyes must be within 0.50D of fully correcting the astigmatism.
* Axis must be within +/- 10 degrees if cylinder power is ≤1.00D, and within +/- 5 degrees if cylinder power is \>1.00D.
* Myopia must not be under corrected by more than 0.25D or over corrected by more than 0.50D SE, and any change must be symmetrical in the two eyes.
2. Spectacles/contact lens correction (with or without other treatment such as patching) meeting the above criteria must be worn:
* For at least 18 weeks OR until VA stability is documented (defined as \<1-line change by the same testing method measured on 2 consecutive exams at least 9 weeks apart).
* For determining VA stability (non-improvement):
* The first of two measurements may be made 1) in current correction, or 2) in trial frames with or without cycloplegia or 3) without correction (if new correction is prescribed),
* The second measurement must be made without cycloplegia in the correct spectacles/contact lens correction that has been worn for at least 9 weeks.
* NOTE: Because this determination is a pre-randomization, the method of measuring VA is not mandated.
7. Participant is willing to wear a headset.
8. Participant is willing to continue full-time spectacles/contact lens wear (if needed).
9. Interpupillary distance of 52mm to 72mm inclusive.
10. Investigator is willing to prescribe continued spectacles/contact lens correction (if needed) or either dichoptic device per protocol.
11. Participant is willing to accept assignment to either continued spectacles/ contact lens wear alone, dichoptic movies/shows (view 1 hour per day 6 days per week) OR dichoptic games (play approximately 25 minutes per day, 6 days per week) for 19 weeks.
12. Parent understands the protocol and is willing to accept randomization.
13. Parent has phone (or access to phone) and is willing to be contacted by JAEB Center staff.
14. Relocation outside of area of an active PEDIG site for this study within the next 36 weeks is not anticipated.
Exclusion Criteria:
1. Heterotropia more than 5∆ at distance or near (measured by SPCT in current correction)
2. Prism greater than a total of 8 diopters horizontal and 1 diopter vertical in the refractive correction at time of enrollment.
3. Current bifocal spectacles (eligible only if bifocal discontinued 2 weeks prior to enrollment).
4. Myopia greater than -6.00D spherical equivalent in either eye.
5. Ocular co-morbidity that may reduce VA determined by an ocular examination performed within the past 7 months (Note: nystagmus per se does not exclude the participant if the above visual acuity criteria are met using patch occlusion. Fogging is not permitted).
6. Diplopia more than once per week over the last week prior to enrollment by parental report.
7. History of light-induced seizures.
8. Known simulator sickness.
9. Severe developmental delay that would interfere with treatment or evaluation (in the opinion of the investigator). Participants with mild speech delay or reading and/or learning disabilities are not excluded.
10. Immediate family member (biological or legal guardian, child, sibling, parent) of investigative site personnel directly affiliated with this study or an employee of the JAEB center for Health Research.
Where it's running
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UAB Pediatric Eye Care; Birmingham Health Care
Birmingham, Alabama, United States Recruiting -
Midwestern University Eye Institute
Glendale, Arizona, United States Recruiting -
Phoenix Children's Medical Group - Ophthalmology
Scottsdale, Arizona, United States Recruiting -
University of Arizona
Tucson, Arizona, United States Recruiting -
Arkansas Childrens
Little Rock, Arkansas, United States Recruiting -
McFarland Eye Care Center
Little Rock, Arkansas, United States Recruiting
Show 44 more locations
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University Eye Center at Ketchum Health
Anaheim, California, United States Recruiting -
Univ. of California- Berkeley
Berkeley, California, United States Recruiting -
Univ of California, Irvine- Gavin Herbert Eye Institute
Irvine, California, United States Recruiting -
Stanford University
Palo Alto, California, United States Recruiting -
Western University College of Optometry
Pomona, California, United States Recruiting -
University of California, Davis
Sacramento, California, United States Recruiting -
University of California San Francisco Department of Ophthalmology
San Francisco, California, United States Recruiting -
Nova Southeastern University College of Optometry, The Eye Institute
Fort Lauderdale, Florida, United States Recruiting -
University of South Florida (USF) Eye
Tampa, Florida, United States Recruiting -
Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago
Chicago, Illinois, United States Recruiting -
Illinois College of Optometry
Chicago, Illinois, United States Recruiting -
Midwestern University Eye Institute
Downers Grove, Illinois, United States Recruiting -
Progressive Eye Care
Lisle, Illinois, United States Recruiting -
Indiana School of Optometry
Bloomington, Indiana, United States Recruiting -
University of Iowa
Iowa City, Iowa, United States Recruiting -
University of Kansas Dept of Ophthalmology
Prairie Village, Kansas, United States Recruiting -
Greater Baltimore Medical Center
Baltimore, Maryland, United States Recruiting -
Wilmer Eye Institute
Baltimore, Maryland, United States Recruiting -
New England College of Optometry
Boston, Massachusetts, United States Recruiting -
Boston Medical Center
Boston, Massachusetts, United States Recruiting -
Boston Children's Hospital Waltham
Boston, Massachusetts, United States Recruiting -
Michigan College of Optometry at Ferris State Univ
Big Rapids, Michigan, United States Recruiting -
Pediatric Ophthalmology, P.C.
Grand Rapids, Michigan, United States Recruiting -
Zenith Vision Development Center
Duluth, Minnesota, United States Recruiting -
University of Minnesota-Minnesota Lions Children's Eye Clinic
Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States Recruiting -
Mayo Clinic Department of Ophthalmology
Rochester, Minnesota, United States Recruiting -
PineCone Vision Center
Sartell, Minnesota, United States Recruiting -
Children's Mercy Hospitals and Clinics
Kansas City, Missouri, United States Recruiting -
University of Nebraska Medical Center
Omaha, Nebraska, United States Recruiting -
NYU Langone Health
New York, New York, United States Recruiting -
State University of New York, College of Optometry
New York, New York, United States Recruiting -
University of North Carolina
Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States Recruiting -
Duke University Eye Center
Durham, North Carolina, United States Recruiting -
University of North Dakota
Grand Forks, North Dakota, United States Recruiting -
Cincinnati Children's Hospital
Cincinnati, Ohio, United States Recruiting -
Cole Eye Institute
Cleveland, Ohio, United States Recruiting -
Ohio State University College of Optometry
Columbus, Ohio, United States Recruiting -
Rainbow Babies and Children's Hospital Dept of Ophth
Mayfield Heights, Ohio, United States Recruiting -
River View Family Eyecare
Albany, Oregon, United States Recruiting -
OHSU Casey Eye Institute
Portland, Oregon, United States Recruiting -
Pediatric Ophthalmology of Erie
Erie, Pennsylvania, United States Recruiting -
Conestoga Eye
Lancaster, Pennsylvania, United States Recruiting -
Wills Eye Hospital
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States Recruiting -
Salus University/Pennsylvania College of Optometry
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States Recruiting
+8 more sites. See ClinicalTrials.gov for the full list.
Study contacts
- Study coordinator: Raymond T Kraker, MSPH
- Email: rkraker@jaeb.org
- Phone: 813-975-8690
Similar studies
Other studies for the same condition or treatment. Recruiting studies are listed first.
-
Psilocybin-assisted therapy to help adults with amblyopia see more clearly
This study tests whether a single or small doses of psilocybin can boost the effectiveness of amblyopia treatment in adults.
-
Augmented Reality Binocular Therapy for Adult Amblyopia
This trial tests a home-based augmented reality binocular therapy to see if it improves vision in adults 18–40 with anisometropic amblyopia, compared with placebo training.
-
Gabor-based visual training for adults with amblyopia
This study tests a computer-based Gabor training program to see if it can improve vision in adults aged 18–39 with amblyopia due to anisometropia or strabismus.
-
Noninvasive brain stimulation plus augmented reality vision therapy for anisometropic amblyopia in adults
This trial tests whether adding HD-tDCS to AR-based dichoptic therapy can improve vision in adults with anisometropic amblyopia.
-
tDCS for paediatric amblyopia
This study tests whether non-invasive brain stimulation (tDCS) can improve vision for children aged 4–14 with amblyopia who didn’t get enough help from patching.
-
Gamified visual training with occlusion for kids with anisometropic amblyopia
This trial tests two kid-friendly digital games plus patching to see if they improve vision and motivation in children aged 4–7 with anisometropic amblyopia compared with patching alone.
How to take part
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
- Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.