Video game therapy helps in the treatment of visual impairment

      Amblyopia, also known as "lazy eye" is a failure of normal development of the visual system that can cause the reduction or loss of vision. Currently the most common treatment is the occlusion, ie, the use of a buffer during childhood that forces the poor development of the eye. However, the practice is no longer effective after eight years of age.

      In search of new methods to combat amblyopia, UC Berkeley researchers conducted a study using common video games in the treatment of young people and adults, which have had very interesting results. The therapy with video games was used to treat a group of 20 people between 15 and 61 years with amblyopia.

      The patients participated of several sessions of 2 hours of play (totaling 40 hours). The volunteers were divided into two groups: the first was subjected to rounds of Medal of Honor: Pacific Assault while the second group combined sessions of the game SimCity Societies using the technique of occlusion of the "good" eye.

      The study demonstrated an improvement of the visual acuity and three-dimensional perception. According to Dr. Roger Li, author and coordinator of research, this is the first concrete proof that video games can help in the recovery of visual acuity in adults with amblyopia.

      Remembering that at the beginning of the year at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES), a game controlled by the movement of the eyes showed another application of games in the treatment of amblyopia.