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Randomized Controlled Trial
. 2022 Apr 21;22(1):182.
doi: 10.1186/s12886-022-02393-z.

Virtual reality-based vision therapy versus OBVAT in the treatment of convergence insufficiency, accommodative dysfunction: a pilot randomized controlled trial

Shijin Li #  1 , Angcang Tang #  2 , Bi Yang  2 , Jianglan Wang  2 , Longqian Liu  3   4
Affiliations
Randomized Controlled Trial

Virtual reality-based vision therapy versus OBVAT in the treatment of convergence insufficiency, accommodative dysfunction: a pilot randomized controlled trial

Shijin Li et al. BMC Ophthalmol. .

Abstract

Background: Virtual reality is being increasingly applied in vision therapy. However, the differences in effectiveness, optimal treatment cycle, and prognosis between virtual reality-based vision therapy and traditional therapies remain unknown. The purpose of this study was to compare the effectiveness of virtual reality-based vision therapy and office-based vergence/accommodative therapy in young adults with convergence insufficiency or accommodative dysfunction.

Methods: The patients were randomly assigned to either the virtual reality-based vision therapy group or the office-based vergence/accommodative therapy group. The vision therapy lasted 12 weeks (1 h/week) in both groups. Binocular visual functions (vergence and accommodation) were measured and a subjective questionnaire-based assessment was performed at baseline and after 6 and 12 weeks of therapy.

Results: In total, 33 patients with convergence insufficiency and 30 with accommodative dysfunction completed the study. After 12 weeks of treatment for convergence insufficiency, the Convergence Insufficiency Symptom Survey score (F2,31 = 13.704, P < 0.001), near point of convergence (F2,31 = 21.774, P < 0.001), positive fusional vergence (F2,31 = 71.766, P < 0.001), and near horizontal phoria (F2,31 = 16.482, P < 0.001) improved significantly in both groups. Moreover, the monocular accommodative amplitude (F2,25 = 22.154, P < 0.001) and monocular accommodative facility (F2,25 = 86.164, P < 0.001) improved significantly in both groups after 12 weeks of treatment. A statistically significant difference was observed in monocular accommodative facility (F1,25 = 8.140, P = 0.009) between the two groups, but not in other vergence and accommodative functions (0.098 < P < 0.687).

Conclusion: Virtual reality-based vision therapy significantly improved binocular vision functions and symptoms in patients with convergence insufficiency and accommodative dysfunction, thereby suggesting its effectiveness as a new optional or additional treatment for young adults with these conditions.

Trial registration: This study was registered at the Chinese Clinical Trials Registry on 16/04/2019 (identifier: ChiCTR1900022556 ).

Keywords: Accommodative dysfunction; Binocular vision; Convergence insufficiency; Virtual reality; Vision therapy.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors report no conflicts of interest and have no proprietary interest in any of the materials mentioned in this article.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Flowchart showing study completion for each group. VR: virtual reality; OBVAT: office-based vergence/accommodative therapy
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
A simplified schematic representation of the VR imaging principles
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
The schematic diagram of VR therapy
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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