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. 2019 Jul 16;20(1):437.
doi: 10.1186/s13063-019-3523-0.

Clinical investigation plan for the use of interactive binocular treatment (I-BiT) for the management of anisometropic, strabismic and mixed amblyopia in children aged 3.5-12 years: a randomised controlled trial

Rebecca Brown  1 , Peter Blanchfield  1 , Apostolos Fakis  1 , Paul McGraw  1 , Alexander J E Foss  2 ; I-BiT Study Group
Affiliations

Clinical investigation plan for the use of interactive binocular treatment (I-BiT) for the management of anisometropic, strabismic and mixed amblyopia in children aged 3.5-12 years: a randomised controlled trial

Rebecca Brown et al. Trials. .

Abstract

Background: Amblyopia (lazy eye) affects the vision of approximately 2% of all children. Traditional treatment consists of wearing a patch over their 'good' eye for a number of hours daily, over several months. This treatment is unpopular and compliance is often low. Therefore, results can be poor. I-BiT is a system, based on stereo technology using shutter glasses, designed to treat amblyopia using dichoptic stimulation. This trial uses a redesigned system for home use and includes eye-tracking capability.

Methods/design: This is a randomised controlled trial involving three groups of 40 patients each, aged between 3.5 and 12 years, with a diagnosis of (1) anisometropic amblyopia, (2) mixed or strabismic amblyopia prior to strabismic surgery and (3) mixed or strabismic amblyopia who have just undergone strabismus surgery. They will be randomised in a 1:1 ratio between I-BiT and control and will receive treatment, at home over a 6-week period. Their visual acuity will be assessed independently at baseline, mid-treatment (week 3), at the end of treatment (week 6) and, for those receiving the active I-BiT treatment, 4 weeks after completing treatment (week 10). The primary endpoint will be the change in visual acuity from baseline to the end of treatment. Secondary endpoints will be additional visual acuity measures, patient acceptability, compliance and the incidence of adverse events.

Discussion: This is a randomised controlled trial using the redesigned I-BiT™ system to determine if this is a feasible treatment strategy for the management of anisometropic, strabismic and mixed amblyopia.

Trial registration: ISRCTN Number/Clinical trials.gov, ID: NCT02810847 . Registered on 23 June 2016.

Keywords: Amblyopia; Child; I-BiT™; Lazy eye; Randomised clinical trial.

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Conflict of interest statement

Patents for the I-BiT system are held by both Nottingham University and Nottingham University Hospital Trust which employ AJF, RB, PB and PM.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Summary of trial design
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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