Dichoptic 3D Movies for Intermittent Exotropia

Overseen By Eileen E Birch, PhD

Age: < 18

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: Retina Foundation of the Southwest

Disqualifiers: Amblyopia, Prior surgery, Developmental delay, others

No Placebo Group All trial participants will receive the active study treatment (no placebo)

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: Unknown

Duration: 4 weeks

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

This trial explores whether watching special 3D movies (dichoptic 3D movies) can help manage intermittent exotropia (IXT), a condition where the eyes occasionally drift outward. The goal is to determine if this non-surgical method can improve eye alignment in children with IXT, both before and after any surgical correction. Participants will watch either these specialized 3D movies or regular movies. Children diagnosed with IXT and experiencing noticeable eye misalignment that affects daily activities might be suitable candidates.

As an unphased trial, this study provides a unique opportunity to investigate innovative, non-surgical treatments for IXT.

Will I have to stop taking my current medications?

The trial information does not specify whether you need to stop taking your current medications.

What prior data suggests that dichoptic 3D movies are safe for children with intermittent exotropia?

Research has shown that watching 3D movies using both eyes is generally safe for children with intermittent exotropia, a condition where their eyes sometimes drift outward. Studies comparing this method to other treatments, such as using an eye patch, have found similar safety levels, with no major safety issues reported. This suggests that watching these movies could safely aid eye alignment without surgery. Overall, evidence supports that this non-surgical treatment is well-tolerated and does not cause significant side effects. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Why are researchers excited about this trial?

Researchers are excited about using dichoptic 3D movies for treating intermittent exotropia because this innovative approach directly targets the brain's visual processing. Unlike traditional treatments such as corrective lenses or surgery that primarily address eye muscle alignment, dichoptic 3D movies aim to improve binocular vision by training the eyes to work together more effectively. This method potentially offers a non-invasive and engaging way to enhance visual coordination, which could be especially beneficial for younger patients.

What evidence suggests that dichoptic 3D movies are effective for intermittent exotropia?

Research has shown that watching 3D movies with special glasses might improve eye alignment and depth perception in children with intermittent exotropia (IXT), a condition where the eyes sometimes drift outward. In this trial, one group will watch dichoptic 3D movies, which studies have found can retrain the brain's visual processing, helping children see depth better and reducing eye misalignment. Another group will watch dichoptic standard movies as a sham comparator. Previous studies indicated that children experienced sharper vision after using these 3D movies. Improvements continued over four weeks, suggesting this could be a non-surgical way to manage IXT. While not all children fully recovered, the treatment showed promise in reducing symptoms and improving eye control. ^{1 2 6 7 8}

Who Is on the Research Team?

Eileen E Birch, PhD

Principal Investigator

Retina Foundation of the Southwest

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

This trial is for children with intermittent exotropia, a condition where one eye occasionally drifts outward. They must have a certain level of misalignment in their eyes and haven't had previous binocular treatments or surgery. Kids with amblyopia, other eye/systemic conditions, or developmental delays cannot participate.

Inclusion Criteria

I have been diagnosed with intermittent exotropia (IXT).

Your eyes are not aligned properly, causing vision problems at a distance or up close.

Your score for controlling eye movements at a distance of 3 or 4 is being assessed at the beginning of the study.

Exclusion Criteria

You have a delay in your development compared to other people your age.

I have received treatment for both of my eyes.

I have been diagnosed with lazy eye.

Timeline for a Trial Participant

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Treatment

Participants use dichoptic movies for 4 weeks to improve control of alignment in children with intermittent exotropia

4 weeks

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for safety and effectiveness after treatment

3 months

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

Interventions

• Dichoptic 3D Movies

Trial Overview

The study tests if watching dichoptic 3D movies for four weeks can help control eye alignment in kids with intermittent exotropia either as an alternative to surgery or to maintain alignment after surgical correction.

How Is the Trial Designed?

Group I: Group1 Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

dichoptic 3D movies

Group II: Group 2 Placebo Group 1 Intervention

dichoptic standard movies

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

Retina Foundation of the Southwest

Lead Sponsor

Trials

15

Recruited

1,600+

Citations

1.

researchgate.net

researchgate.net/publication/395600930_022_Randomized_clinical_trial_of_dichoptic_3D_movies_versus_dichoptic_2D_movies_for_treatment_of_childhood_intermittent_exotropia

022 Randomized clinical trial of dichoptic 3D movies ...

The primary outcome, change in best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) at the 2-week visit was completed by 28 and 30, respectively. After the ...

2.

clinicaltrials.gov

clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT04199871

Improving Control of Alignment in Intermittent Exotropia

For the vast majority of children, surgical failure was due to recurrence of the exodeviation. Only about 30% of treated children had resolution ...

3.

withpower.com

withpower.com/trial/phase-exotropia-2-2021-4f5ea

Dichoptic 3D Movies for Intermittent Exotropia

This approach focuses on retraining the brain's visual processing to enhance stereopsis (depth perception) and reduce the degree of eye misalignment.

4.

nature.com

nature.com/articles/s41598-022-08010-9

Randomized clinical trial of streaming dichoptic movies ...

Visual acuity continued to improve in the movie group after the 2-week primary outcome visit, with gains of 0.13 ± 0.11 logMAR by 4 weeks and ...

5.

pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12507155/

Effectiveness of binocular vision therapy in managing patients ...

The objective of active vision therapy in IXT is to reduce intraocular suppressions and improve sensory fusion and fusional reserves (positive ...

6.

jaapos.org

jaapos.org/issue/S1091-8531(25)X0005-7?pageStart=1

August 2025

022 Randomized clinical trial of dichoptic 3D movies versus dichoptic 2D movies for treatment of childhood intermittent exotropia.

7.

researchgate.net

researchgate.net/publication/394698097_The_efficacy_and_safety_of_dichoptic_therapy_in_comparison_to_patching_in_children_with_amblyopia_A_systematic_review_and_meta-analysis

The efficacy and safety of dichoptic therapy in comparison ...

DT and PT show comparable outcomes in visual acuity, stereoacuity, compliance and safety based on pooled data. However, these findings may ...

8.

pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11246402/

Impact of Online Video Game-Based Dichoptic Training on ...

Dichoptic training presents a promising avenue for the restoration of binocular vision in the patients with intermittent exotropia after surgery ...