Home-based digital therapy for treating vision loss in children.
The challenge
Amblyopia, commonly known as “lazy eye”, is the leading cause of vision loss in children and affects approximately 3% of the global population. [1] Standard treatments, such as occlusion therapy (a treatment used to improve vision in a weaker eye by covering the stronger eye, often known as patching) and pharmacological penalisation (medication in the form of eye drops) to the non-amblyopic eye, are designed to improve vision in the weaker eye.
However, these methods present several challenges and limitations.
- Low adherence: Patching the dominant eye for extended periods can cause discomfort and social stigma, particularly amongst children, leading to low compliance (~40%) and limited treatment success. [1]
- Psychosocial impact: Wearing an eye patch often affects children’s confidence and social interactions.
Incomplete recovery: Traditional treatments focus on monocular vision and rarely restore binocular function or depth perception. - Risk of recurrence: Up to 25% of patients experience relapse after treatment [2], especially if maintenance therapy is not adequately managed.
- Lack of accurate monitoring: Adherence is typically reported by caregivers and prone to inaccuracies.
These challenges highlight the need for a more engaging, effective, and measurable approach to treating amblyopia that supports both patients and healthcare professionals.
The solution
CureSight is an innovative, home-based digital therapeutic that addresses the limitations of traditional amblyopia treatment. Instead of patching, the device stimulates both eyes to work together, improving visual acuity and depth perception.
Using embedded eye-tracking technology and real-time image processing, CureSight blurs the central vision of the dominant eye while streaming sharp images to the amblyopic eye, allowing children to watch their preferred digital content at home while receiving therapy.
The system includes:
- Eye-tracking device: Monitors gaze position and adjusts visual input in real time.
- Red-blue glasses: Provide differentiated stimuli to each eye.
- Remote monitoring portal: Enables clinicians to track progress and outcomes.
After diagnosis, the device is shipped to the patient’s home. Children use it daily, while clinicians monitor progress through CureSight’s cloud-based platform, ensuring both convenience and continuity of care.
Expected impact
While CureSight is already available in the US and limited EU markets, the NovaSight project will further adapt the solution for European healthcare systems by:
- Developing a parent-facing monitoring app to enhance engagement and adherence.
- Creating device-independent monitoring configurations to address regulatory requirements, particularly in Germany.
- Reducing operational costs by minimising reliance on a dedicated monitoring centre, making the therapy more accessible across Europe.
As a non-invasive, digital therapeutic, CureSight reduces the need for resource-intensive treatments such as patching and clinic-based follow-up. Delivered at home, it lowers healthcare costs, reduces unnecessary travel, and contributes to the EU’s Green Deal goals of sustainable digital transformation.
By improving adherence, outcomes, and access, CureSight not only strengthens health systems and reduces long-term care costs but also promotes health equity—ensuring more children across Europe can benefit from effective, modern amblyopia treatment.
External Partners
- NovaSight (Activity Leader)
References
[1] Fu Z, Hong H, Su Z, et al. Global prevalence of amblyopia and disease burden projections through 2040: a systematic review and meta-analysis. British Journal of Ophthalmology 2020;104:1164-1170.
[2] Vagge, Aldo, and Leonard B. Nelson. Compliance with the prescribed occlusion treatment for amblyopia. Current opinion in ophthalmology 28.5 (2017): 454-459.