The challenges of developing a contrast-based video game for treatment of amblyopia

Hussain, Zahra, Astle, Andrew T., Webb, Ben S. and McGraw, Paul V. (2014) The challenges of developing a contrast-based video game for treatment of amblyopia. Frontiers in Psychology, 5 . 1210/1-1210/17. ISSN 1664-1078

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Abstract

Perceptual learning of visual tasks is emerging as a promising treatment for amblyopia, a developmental disorder of vision characterized by poor monocular visual acuity. The tasks tested thus far span the gamut from basic psychophysical discriminations to visually complex video games. One end of the spectrum offers precise control over stimulus parameters, whilst the other delivers the benefits of motivation and reward that sustain practice over long periods. Here, we combined the advantages of both approaches by developing a video game that trains contrast sensitivity, which in psychophysical experiments, is associated with significant improvements in visual acuity in amblyopia. Target contrast was varied adaptively in the game to derive a contrast threshold for each session. We tested the game on 20 amblyopic subjects (10 children and 10 adults), who played at home using their amblyopic eye for an average of 37 sessions (approximately 11 h). Contrast thresholds from the game improved reliably for adults but not for children. However, logMAR acuity improved for both groups (mean = 1.3 lines; range = 0–3.6 lines). We present the rationale leading to the development of the game and describe the challenges of incorporating psychophysical methods into game-like settings.

Item Type: Article
RIS ID: https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/740021
Additional Information: This Document is Protected by copyright and was first published by Frontiers. All rights reserved. it is reproduced with permission.
Keywords: Anisometropia, Binocular, Contrast sensitivity, Development, Perceptual learning, Strabismus, Visual acuity
Schools/Departments: University of Nottingham, UK > Faculty of Science > School of Psychology
Identification Number: https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2014.01210
Depositing User: Eprints, Support
Date Deposited: 24 Oct 2016 08:57
Last Modified: 04 May 2020 16:57
URI: https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/id/eprint/37849

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