Video Game Treatment Can Help Fix Lazy Eye
A study found "lazy eye" also known as Amblyopia can be corrected in older children, if they stick to playing video games along with standard Amblyopia treatment.
The study was presented during the Annual 115th American Academy of Ophthalmology meeting in Orlando.
Dr. Somen Ghosh reported on the approaches that allowed India study participants, who were between 10 to 18 year old, to make significant vision gains. At the end of the one year study, nearly 30 percent of 100 participants achieved significant vision gains, while 60 percent showed at least some improvement.
“The cooperation of the patient is very important, maybe even crucial, to successful treatment of amblyopia," said Dr. Somen Ghosh.
Previously, if amblyopia was not diagnosed and corrected before a child reached age ten, it was considered impossible to correct.
Dr. Ghosh said he was motivated by the recent results by the U.S. Pediatric Eye In the study four treatment groups were created. All groups followed a basic treatment plan which required wearing eyeglasses. A standard "patching" technique for amblyopia treatment was also used.
The group that played at least one hour of video games and the group that took the supplement citicoline used to enhancement and better memory concentration saw significant gains by the end of the study.
"I'm very happy that I stuck with the program. My vision has improved a lot, so that I now have no trouble studying or taking exams. My tennis game also improved, and of course I'm now a pro PC gamer,” said Sauray Sen. 16 year old participant of Dr. Ghosh's clinic, who was told his lazy eye problem, was too late to correct.
What is Amblyopia?
Amblyopia, or "lazy eye," is the loss of one eye's ability to see details. It is the most common cause of vision problems in children. Amblyopia occurs when the nerve pathway from one eye to the brain does not develop during childhood. Delaying treatment can result in permanent vision problems and after age 10, only a partial recovery of vision can be expected, according to National Institute of Health.
"We should never give up on our patients, even the older children, but instead offer them hope and treatment designed to help them achieve better vision, said Dr. Ghosh."