VR Binocular Stimulation for Amblyopia With Gaze Tracking

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing treatments for amblyopia, such as occlusion therapy, face challenges with low compliance and limited effectiveness, particularly for pediatric and adult patients, and lack methods for binocular signal imbalance improvement and real-time monitoring of visual function.

Innovation Solution

A virtual reality-based system using a video headset with separate displays for each eye, providing binocular stimulation through converted and normal images, and gaze tracking to enhance visual function, including three-dimensional virtual images and real-time monitoring.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If occlusion therapy is used to treat amblyopia, then monocular visual blockage is restored, but binocular signal imbalance is not improved and compliance is low

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetreatment effectivenessVSAvoidcompliance

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of blocking the normal eye to force use of the amblyopic eye (traditional occlusion therapy), this patent inverts the approach by providing binocular stimulation where both eyes receive appropriate visual input simultaneously. The system presents different visual stimuli to each eye through separate displays, allowing the amblyopic eye to be activated without suppressing the normal eye, thereby improving compliance while addressing binocular signal imbalance.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the mechanical occlusion patch with a virtual reality-based visual stimulation system. Instead of physically blocking one eye, the system uses separate displays for each eye to provide customized visual stimuli, substituting mechanical occlusion with optical and neural stimulation mechanisms to achieve amblyopia treatment.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Reliability

If occlusion therapy is applied to pediatric patients, then treatment is attempted, but long-term compliance is very low and results are difficult to predict

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevision improvementVSAvoidtreatment duration

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDuration of action of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically adjusts visual stimuli based on real-time eye tracking and patient response. The binocular stimulation parameters can be modified during treatment sessions to maintain engagement and effectiveness, making the treatment adaptable to individual patient needs and improving long-term compliance compared to static occlusion therapy.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system incorporates eye tracking and visual feedback mechanisms to monitor treatment progress in real-time. By adjusting stimulation parameters based on observed responses, the system optimizes treatment effectiveness throughout the extended treatment period, addressing the unpredictability of long-term outcomes.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

3Reliability

If occlusion therapy is used for adult amblyopia patients, then treatment is attempted, but effect is minimal and vision improvement is limited

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevisual function improvementVSAvoidapplicability to different age groups

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The binocular stimulation system is designed to be applicable across different age groups including children, adolescents, and adults. By providing customized visual stimuli to each eye through separate displays, the system can adapt treatment parameters to suit various developmental stages and visual conditions, making it a universal treatment approach that addresses the limitations of age-specific treatment protocols.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

4Reliability

If traditional amblyopia treatment methods are used, then monocular vision is addressed, but binocular vision and stereopsis development is not adequately improved

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemonocular vision correctionVSAvoidtreatment approach complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system segments the visual stimulation process by providing separate displays for each eye, allowing independent control of visual input to the amblyopic and normal eyes. This segmentation enables customized stimulation patterns that simultaneously address monocular vision correction and promote binocular vision development, as each eye receives age-appropriate visual stimuli simultaneously.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentEP4681695A1Virtual reality-based visual function improvement system

Publication Date: 2026.01.21 CHONBUK NAT UNIV HOSPITAL

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AI summary

The present disclosure is directed to providing a visual function improvement system to treat amblyopia through "binocular stimulation amblyopia treatment" using a virtual three dimensional image. This system includes a video headset with a means for allowing a user to wear the headset on the user's head, a separate display configured to display distinct visual stimulation images to the left and right eyes of the user in response to the user's gaze, and an image providing means that delivers visual stimulation videos or images to the separate display. The image providing means includes a binocular visual stimulation image providing unit, which separately presents a converted image to the amblyopic eye and a normal image to the fellow eye. By providing an unclear image to the fellow (or normal) eye, the amblyopic eye is activated, thereby improving the visual function imbalance between the two eyes.