Improving Control of Intermittent Exotropia

Retina Foundation of the Southwest

Status: Not yet enrolling

Conditions: Intermittent Exotropia

Treatments: Other: dichoptic videos; Other: standard videos

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT07272005

03 IXT2 2026

Details and patient eligibility

About

To determine whether use of dichoptic movies for 8 weeks may be helpful in improving control alignment in children with intermittent exotropia (IXT), thus allowing IXT to be managed non-surgically

Full description

Intermittent exotropia (IXT) is the most common form of strabismus, characterized by an outward deviation of the eyes that is primarily manifest during distance fixation and can intermittently be controlled by fusional mechanisms. Less than 30% of children have good long-term outcomes following treatment for spontaneously manifest IXT with current non-surgical treatments (prism therapy, over-minus lenses, or vision therapy). The limited efficacy of current non-surgical treatments for IXT is thought to arise from underlying sensory deficits, particularly interocular suppression, which compromises binocular function. This underscores the need for sensory-directed interventions aimed at reducing suppression and thereby enhancing the potential for stable binocular outcomes.

In this study, children will be randomized to watch engaging videos streamed at home that are either dichoptic or standard (control) format. The aim is to determine whether the dichoptic format will decrease suppression and improve control of eye alignment . In previous research, use of dichoptic games and movies by children with amblyopia has shown to reduce suppression.

Enrollment: 40 estimated patients

Sex: All

Ages: 4 to 10 years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Diagnosis of IXT or XT at Distance & IXT or XP at near (Basic or Pseudo Divergence Excess subtype of IXT)
• No surgery planned for 6 months

Exclusion criteria

• Prior eye muscle surgery
• Prior binocular treatment or vision therapy
• Amblyopia
• Neurological conditions, seizure disorders, vestibular abnormalities, or frequent headache
• Other eye conditions (refractive error OK)

Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: Triple Blind

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40 participants in 2 patient groups

Group 1: Dichoptic Videos

Experimental group

Description:

dichoptic videos streamed at home 1 hour per day, 5 days per week

Treatment:

Other: dichoptic videos

Group 2: Standard Videos

Sham Comparator group

Description:

standard videos streamed at home 1 hour per day, 5 days per week

Treatment:

Other: standard videos