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Dichoptic treatment for amblyopia in children aged 8 to 12

A Randomized Trial of Dichoptic Treatment for Amblyopia in Children 8 to 12 Years of Age

Phase 3 Interventional Jaeb Center for Health Research · NCT06524882

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

PhasePhase 3
Study typeInterventional
Enrollment252 (estimated)
Ages8 Years to 12 Years
SexAll
SponsorJaeb Center for Health Research Academic / other
Locations58 sites (Birmingham, Alabama and 57 other locations)
Trial IDNCT06524882 on ClinicalTrials.gov

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.

Who should consider this trial

Good fit: Ideal candidates are children aged 8 to 12 with amblyopia characterized by specific visual acuity differences between their eyes.

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.

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 performed: Previous studies have shown promise with dichoptic treatments for amblyopia, indicating potential for success in this approach.

Eligibility criteria

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 this trial is running

Birmingham, Alabama and 57 other locations

+8 more sites — see ClinicalTrials.gov for the full list.

Study contacts

How to participate

  1. Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
  2. Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
  3. Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.
View on ClinicalTrials.gov → Find more trials like this →
Conditions AmblyopiaDichopticLuminopiaVivid VisionGamemovieglasses
Last reviewed 2026-06-13 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.