Impact of eye movement ability analysis (EMAA) use in the treatment of ocular vergence disorders: A retrospective study.

BACKGROUND

Vergence disorders are generally treated by office-based vergence/accommodative therapy. Novel technologies now make it possible to include patients in their own care and increase efficiency. Eye movement ability analysis (EMAA) is a software designed to treat binocular vision disorders, combining the use of virtual reality (VR) and eye tracking. The objective of this study is to evaluate, in routine practice and in real-life settings, the safety and efficacy of EMAA in the rehabilitation of vergence disorders.

METHODS

Retrospectively, the elements of an orthoptic assessment (fusional vergences, near point of convergence [NPC], heterophoria, stereoacuity) performed by French orthoptists in their routine practice, were evaluated before and after rehabilitation by EMAA. Symptoms, adverse effects, compliance and use of telecare were also recorded.

RESULTS

After vision therapy, 80% of participants had improved near positive fusional vergence by at least 10 prism diopters. More generally, fusional vergence (near positive: P<0.001; near negative: P=0.014), NPC (P<0.001) and symptoms improved (after rehabilitation, 94% were headache-free, 95% asthenopia-free and 96% eye pain-free). Seventy-two percent of patients completed their follow-up. Seventeen percent of rehabilitation sessions were carried out using telecare. No serious adverse events and very few non-serious adverse events (3%) were reported.

CONCLUSION

This study demonstrates the safety and efficacy of EMAA.