Testing and treating of visual dysfunctions

Abstract

A method for testing and treating visual dysfunctions (for example amblyopia) includes steps of providing an interactive visual game that presents to the patient a visual task, the visual game employing images scaled to the threshold visual parameter or parameters of the patient, and presenting a nonvisual reward to the patient for successful completion of the task. Also, apparatus for treating visual dysfunctions in a patient includes means for presenting an image to the patient, the image presenting a visual task to the patient, means for scaling the image to about the patient's threshold value for a visual parameter or parameters, means for providing an interaction between the patient and the image, and means for providing a reward for successful completion of the task. Also, an interactive video apparatus includes video display means for simultaneously stimulating a subject's interest and stimulating the subject's vision at about the maximum value of a visual parameter or parameters of which the subject is capable, means for receiving input from the subject, and means for providing to the subject a nonvisual reward for subject input that is appropriate to an image presented to the subject on the video display means. Also, a computerized method for testing a visual parameter or parameters comprises providing an interactive visual test that presents to the patient an image to be identified and, in step increments of increasing difficulty of the parameter in question, determining that patient's threshold value for the visual parameter or parameters by providing for interaction between the patient and the image.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.