Can a gentle brain zap help adults with lazy eye see better?
NCT ID NCT07752433
First seen Aug 07, 2026 · Last updated Aug 07, 2026
Summary
This trial tests whether adding a mild electrical brain stimulation to augmented reality-based vision therapy can improve vision in adults aged 18 to 35 with lazy eye (anisometropic amblyopia). Participants will use special augmented reality glasses that encourage both eyes to work together, and some will also receive a gentle current applied to the scalp. The study compares those who get real stimulation with those who get a sham version to see if the combination boosts visual acuity and depth perception more than therapy alone.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- Active high-definition transcranial direct current stimulation (HD-tDCS) combined with augmented reality-based dichoptic therapy
- What this could lead to
- If it works, this could offer a new way to improve vision and depth perception in adults with lazy eye, a condition often considered hard to treat after childhood.
- What could go wrong
- This is an early-stage trial with a modest number of participants, and the added benefit of brain stimulation over therapy alone is unproven. The stimulation is generally mild, but any electrical brain stimulation carries some risk of discomfort or unexpected effects.
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Conditions
The condition(s) this trial relates to.
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
Contacts and locations
Locations
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RISE-Health, Center for Translational Health and Medical Biotechnology Research (TBIO), School of Health, Polytechnic of Porto
RECRUITINGPorto, Porto District, 4200-072, Portugal
More trials for these conditions
Other studies related to the condition(s) this trial covers.
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- Magnetic pulses to the brain may restore vision in adult lazy eye
- Could 3D video games replace eye patches for lazy eye?
- Video game therapy shows promise for lazy eye in kids
- Could AR games beat the patch? new study tests lazy eye treatment in teens and adults
- VR games may beat eye patches for lazy eye treatment