ISSN 1671-3710
CN 11-4766/R
主办：中国科学院心理研究所
出版：科学出版社

Advances in Psychological Science ›› 2023, Vol. 31 ›› Issue (suppl.): 7-7.

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Effects of Monocular Flicker on Binocular Imbalance in Amblyopic Patients

Yiqiu Lua,b, Liying Zoua,b, Wenjing Wanga,b, Ruyin Chena,b, Jia Qua,b,c, Jiawei Zhoua,b   

  1. aLaboratory of Visual Deficits and Visual Rehabilitation, School of Ophthalmology & Optometry and Eye Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, 270 Xueyuan Xi Road, Wenzhou, Zhejiang 325027, China;
    bState Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Optometry and Visual Science and National Engineering Research Center of Ophthalmology and Optometry, Eye Hospital Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China, 325027;
    cOujiang Laboratory, Zhejiang Lab for Regenerative Medicine, Vision and Brain Health, Wenzhou, China, 325000
  • Online:2023-08-26 Published:2023-09-11

Abstract: PURPOSE: This study aims to evaluate the effects of monocular flicker stimulation on binocular imbalance in patients with amblyopia.
METHODS: Seven amblyopic patients (28.3 ± 3.3 years, four females) and seven normally sighted participants (27.3 ± 4.1 years, five females) were included. The balance point (BP), where participants’ two eyes are equally effective, was measured using a binocular orientation combination task under baseline conditions and with monocular flicker at five temporal frequencies (TFs, 4, 7, 10, 15, and 20 Hz). |logBP| were calculated and normalized to the baseline condition to analyze the influence of monocular flicker on binocular imbalance. Negative normalized |logBP| values indicate improved balance.
RESULTS: Adding monocular flicker to the amblyopes’ fellow eye (FE) resulted in normalized |logBP| values below zero, indicating improved balance. Conversely, when flicker was added to the amblyopic eye (AE) or to the nondominant eye (nonDE) or dominant eye (DE) of normal participants, normalized |logBP| values were above zero, indicating disrupted balance. The mixed repeated-measures ANOVA revealed no significant difference in normalized |logBP| values between flicker applied to AE in amblyopes and nonDE in normal (P = 0.481). However, when flicker was applied to the FE in amblyopes, normalized |logBP| values were significantly lower than when applied to the DE in normal (P < 0.001).
CONCLUSIONS: While flickering the amblyopic eye disrupted balance, flickering the fellow eye improved binocular imbalance in amblyopes. These findings have implications for therapeutic interventions targeting binocular balance in amblyopia.

Key words: monocular flicker, temporal frequency, interocular interaction