Reinventing Ambulatory Amblyopia Treatment with CureSight
Amblyopia, often called lazy eye, remains one of pediatric eye care’s toughest challenges. Traditional patching is effective for many children, but keeping them compliant can be a test of patience for families and clinicians alike. A new device from Israel, CureSight, aims to change that dynamic by pairing treatment with engaging content and real-time monitoring, now available in Australia through BOC Instruments.
How CureSight Works: The Technology Behind the Compliance
At the heart of CureSight is eye-tracking technology integrated with standard binocular treatment. Children wear dedicated anaglyph glasses (red-blue) and watch content on the CureSight device for 90 minutes, five days a week. The screen content is split into red and blue channels so each eye sees different information. The device then subtly blurs the central area of the dominant, non-amblyopic eye based on where the child is looking. This forces the brain to process visual input from both eyes, encouraging binocular cooperation rather than a reliance on the stronger eye alone.
According to NovaSight’s chief scientific officer, Dr. Oren Yehezkel, the goal is to teach both eyes to work together by maintaining a clear peripheral view while the central area of the dominant eye is masked when needed. This approach preserves peripheral vision and promotes balanced binocular function, which is crucial for depth perception and stereoacuity.
Why Compliance Matters in Amblyopia Treatment
Compliance with patching has long been a stumbling block. Studies led by experienced pediatric ophthalmologist Professor Tamara Wygnanski-Jaffe show adherence during the initial weeks can be as low as 40-60%, often dropping to around 30% over time. This makes it difficult to gauge whether lack of progress is due to non-compliance or the underlying severity of amblyopia.
In contrast, CureSight doubles as a monitoring system. The device tracks usage in real time and generates reports for parents and eyecare professionals. If a child isn’t looking at the screen, the system flags it, enabling timely intervention and support. This transparency helps clinicians tailor treatment and gives families concrete data to understand progress.
Clinical Evidence: What the Trials Show
Israel-led trials involving 103 children aged four to nine reported notable improvements: an average gain of 2.8 lines on distance visual acuity and 1.3 lines when using binocular treatment. Stereoacuity improved from 200 to 60 arcseconds, with results sustained at one-year follow-up. These gains were particularly meaningful because they translated into durable improvements in depth perception and binocular function, even after the formal treatment period ended.
Prof. Wygnanski-Jaffe notes that CureSight is not a one-size-fits-all replacement for patching. Rather, it offers an additional or alternative pathway that can be particularly beneficial for children who resist traditional patching or where monitoring compliance is difficult. In real-world practice, CureSight has been adopted as an add-on, a replacement, or a staged approach depending on family preferences and the child’s needs.
Real-World Adoption and Access in Australia
Since its early-2023 launch, CureSight has attracted thousands of referrals across the US, Europe, and Asia. In Australia, optometrists and ophthalmologists can prescribe CureSight and have the device sent to their clinic with a six-month activation code through BOC Instruments. Clinicians may offer in-clinic sessions or permit home use, with ongoing renewal options to fit budget and care plans.
Looking Ahead: Is CureSight the Solution for Every Family?
CureSight represents a significant advance in how pediatric amblyopia can be treated and monitored. While patching remains a valid and effective option for many, younger patients, older children sensitive to stigma, or families seeking more transparent progress tracking may find CureSight an appealing alternative or supplement. Clinicians emphasize informed choice—patching, atropine drops, and binocular approaches can each play a role depending on the child’s type and severity of amblyopia, as well as family needs.
As more clinics adopt CureSight and accumulate longer-term data, the eye care community will better understand where this technology fits best. For now, CureSight offers a promising path to keeping those young amblyopia eyes on track, blending engaging content, precise eye-tracking, and proactive monitoring to maximize outcomes.
