What makes CureSight different for pediatric amblyopia treatment
Amblyopia, or lazy eye, is a common childhood condition that benefits from regular, effective patching. But keeping children compliant with traditional patching can be challenging, especially as they grow older. An Israeli company, NovaSight, has introduced CureSight, a device that pairs eye-tracking technology with a child-friendly treatment routine, now available in Australia through BOC Instruments. The goal is simple: strengthen the weaker eye while monitoring and improving adherence to the therapy.
How CureSight works
Children wear dedicated anaglyph glasses (red-blue) and watch content on the CureSight device for 90 minutes, five days a week. The on-screen content is split into red and blue channels, one for each eye. The device’s eye-tracking system follows the child’s gaze and selectively blurs the central area of the dominant eye, encouraging the brain to rely on input from both eyes. The periphery of both eyes remains clear, promoting binocular cooperation and eventual better balance in vision.
The science behind the approach
Dr. Oren Yehezkel, NovaSight’s chief scientific officer, explains that the method trains both eyes to work together by temporarily reducing dominance of the non-amblyopic eye. This is achieved without eliminating visual information from the non-amblyopic eye entirely, allowing the brain to gradually relearn coordinated, binocular vision.
Evidence and outcomes
Clinical studies from Israel, with international backing from China and the United States, indicate strong benefits from CureSight. In a 16-week trial involving 103 children aged four to nine, participants showed an average improvement of 2.8 lines on a distance visual acuity chart and a 1.3-line improvement in binocular eye function. Median stereoacuity improved markedly from 200 to 60 arcseconds. Notably, follow-up at one year demonstrated that these gains were sustained, and some children continued to improve as their visual systems matured.
Compliance and monitoring
One of CureSight’s standout features is real-time monitoring. A dedicated center tracks how long a child uses the device, and if the child isn’t looking at the screen, alerts are generated for parents and eyecare professionals. In Israel, researchers reported about a 95% compliance rate, a dramatic improvement over traditional patching adherence in the early weeks. This level of monitoring helps clinicians distinguish true treatment response from issues related to non-compliance or deeper amblyopia risk factors.
Expert perspectives
Prof. Tamara Wygnanski-Jaffe, a pediatric ophthalmologist at Sheba Medical Centre, acknowledges the value of CureSight while emphasizing that patching remains a viable option. She notes that adherence to patching typically drops after six weeks, making monitoring a real challenge. CureSight offers an effective alternative or complement to patching, and in some cases a complete switch to binocular treatment. Her teams report that children previously resistant to patching showed visual improvements with CureSight.
Global adoption and how it works in Australia
Since launching CureSight in 2023, NovaSight has recorded thousands of referrals across the US, Europe, Asia, and beyond. In Australia, CureSight is distributed via BOC Instruments. If prescribed and accepted by the family, the device is sent to the treating optometrist or ophthalmologist, who can provide in-clinic sessions or rent the device for home use. A six-month activation code begins the program, with ongoing renewal options available to keep treatment accessible as needed.
Should CureSight replace patching?
Experts view CureSight as a powerful option, particularly for children who resist patching. However, many clinicians advocate a personalized approach, combining patching, atropine drops, and binocular treatments based on the child’s age, severity, and family preferences. The key takeaway is that strong evidence supports CureSight as a credible, monitorable option that can enhance compliance and improve visual outcomes when used as part of a comprehensive amblyopia plan.
