Amblyopia VR
Neural mechanisms of visual plasticity in amblyopia
What is this study?
Combining the information from our two eyes allows us to experience the world in depth, in addition to expanding the area of the world that we can see. Some people who experience monocular deprivation when they are children, due to a ‘lazy eye’ are later unable to see in depth. In addition to people who are unable to see in depth, there are some people who have one eye that is much more dominant than the other, and they favour this eye.
This study aims to understand how specialised virtual reality (VR) training using a simple, but challenging visual task, performed over several days can improve vision in people with amblyopia, commonly known as "lazy eye." Amblyopia occurs when one eye doesn’t communicate as strongly with the brain, usually due to unequal input during childhood, resulting in reduced vision in that eye.
Our research explores what happens in the brain, specifically in the visual cortex, when people with amblyopia engage in visual training exercises. In particular, we are interested in one of the chemicals that is called gamma aminobutyric acid (GABA). We believe that this chemical has a role in determining how much information each eye contributes to our vision. By understanding this relationship, we hope to better understand the problems with binocular vision that occur in some people. By tracking brain activity using - safe and non-invasive - Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) before and after the VR training, we hope to discover how the brain responds to visual training and adapts to enhance vision. This information may help researchers and clinicians develop more effective vision rehabilitation methods, improving quality of life for people with amblyopia.
Participants in this study will undergo VR training sessions and MRI scans over a period of several weeks, providing essential data to deepen our understanding of the brain-vision connection and the potential of VR in visual rehabilitation.
Who are we?
We are a dedicated research team based at Oxford University in the Nuffield Department of Clinical Neuroscience (NDCN), focused on advancing our understanding of vision science and improving treatments for amblyopia.
-
Juju Fars, PhD: Lead Researcher
-
Betina Ip, DPhil and Royal Society Dorothy Hodgkin Research Fellow: Co-Principal Investigator for this study.
-
Holly Bridge, Professor of Neuroscience: Co-Principal Investigator for this study.
Together, we aim to explore innovative approaches to visual rehabilitation and deepen our understanding of how the brain processes vision. For more information on our research group, visit the Vision Group
Who can participate?
You may be eligible to join this study if you are between 18 and 50 years old and meet AT LEAST ONE of the following criteria:
- You were diagnosed with lazy eye (amblyopia) as a child and still experience vision difficulties.
- You wore an eye patch as a child to treat lazy eye and believe you may still have symptoms.
- You suspect you have lazy eye, even if you weren’t formally diagnosed as a child. We can arrange an orthoptic assessment - free of charge - for you in Oxford or in London.
- You have or had a squint (strabismus), which may be associated with lazy eye.
If you're unsure about your eligibility, please contact us at vision.study@ndcn.ox.ac.uk
Study Participation
-
Commitment: Participants will need to complete up to 4 visits to our lab, along with an at-home virtual reality (VR) training program that requires 1 hour per day over a 15-day period.
-
Visit Schedule and Breakdown:
- 1] First Appointment: A 30-minute orthoptist assessment taking place at the John Radcliffe (JR) Hospital in Oxford OR at the Moorfield Eye Hospital in London to evaluate initial eye health and visual function. This visit is free of charge.
- 2] Second Appointment: A 3-hour familiarisation session in Oxford to introduce participants to the study protocol, and baseline assessments.
- 3] Third Appointment: A comprehensive session involving a brain MRI scan followed by a series of visual tests in Oxford. This visit will take approximately 5 hours to complete (including breaks).
- VR Visual Training: The core of the training involves 15 days of VR visual exercises over a 3-week period, performed at home, allowing for scheduled break days as needed. The participants will recieve a Virtual Reality device for the time of the study.
- 4] Final Appointment: A comprehensive session involving a brain MRI scan followed by a series of visual tests in Oxford. This visit will take approximately 5 hours to complete (including breaks).
Through these structured visits and VR training sessions, participants will help us better understand how neural substrates can aid in visual rehabilitation for individuals with lazy eye.
Where does it take place?
Visits 2 to 4 will take place at the Wellcome Centre for Integrative Neuroimaging (WIN) at the John Radcliffe Hospital in Headington, Oxford. For directions and more information, please visit the WIN contact page.
Will I Be Reimbursed?
Yes, participants will be reimbursed for their time as well as reasonable local travel expenses incurred during the study.
Contact Us
If you have any questions or would like more information about the study, please don’t hesitate to reach out to our study team at vision.study@ndcn.ox.ac.uk. We are here to assist you and would love to hear from you! Your inquiries are important to us, and we look forward to connecting with you.