New Handheld Device Enhances Early Detection and Treatment of Amblyopia

新型手持设备增强弱视的早期检测和治疗

June 17, 2025

2025年6月17日

Researchers at the University of Missouri–St. Louis (UMSL) have developed a groundbreaking handheld device designed to improve the early detection and treatment of amblyopia. Utilizing the Quantitative 3 Dot (Q3D) Test, the device provides a more sensitive and quantifiable method for identifying visual suppression, a hallmark of amblyopia..

密苏里大学圣路易斯分校（UMSL）的研究人员开发了一种突破性的手持设备，旨在改进弱视的早期检测和治疗。该设备利用定量三点测试（Q3D），提供了一种更敏感且可量化的视觉抑制识别方法，而视觉抑制是弱视的一个重要特征。

Development Rooted in Clinical Need

植根于临床需求的发展

The innovation was led by Carl Bassi, PhD, Curators’ Distinguished Teaching Professor, in collaboration with Michael Howe and Wayne Garver. The idea originated in the early 1990s, when Dr. Bassi was assessing vision in patients with Alzheimer’s disease and noticed limitations in the conventional Worth Four Dot Test, a standard yet qualitative tool for screening binocular function..

这项创新由卡尔·巴希博士（Curators’ Distinguished Teaching Professor）领导，与迈克尔·豪和韦恩·加弗合作完成。这一想法起源于20世纪90年代初，当时巴希博士正在评估阿尔茨海默病患者的视力，并注意到传统的沃斯四点测试在筛查双眼功能时的局限性，这是一种标准但定性的工具。

“The problem is it's not quantitative,” Bassi explained. “It just gives you this gross kind of yes or no, and you have to have a severe problem before you’re able to pick anything up with that. My idea very early on was to try to change the intensity of these lights independently.”

“问题在于它不是定量的，”巴西解释说。“它只是给你一个大概的是否，你必须有一个严重的问题才能用它检测到任何东西。我最早的想法是尝试独立改变这些灯的强度。”

This vision became feasible only after advancements in LED technology, particularly the emergence of super-bright LEDs, which were essential for accurate implementation of the Q3D method.

只有在LED技术进步之后，尤其是在对Q3D方法的精确实施至关重要的超亮LED出现后，这一愿景才变得可行。

Enhanced Diagnostic Sensitivity

增强诊断灵敏度

The team received a $50,000 FastTrack award in 2014 from the University of Missouri System to develop working prototypes. The Q3D device was initially tested at the UMSL Eye Care Clinic, followed by a clinical trial involving over 300 patients at Cardinal Glennon Children’s Hospital, led by Oscar A.

该团队在2014年获得了来自密苏里大学系统的5万美元FastTrack奖，用于开发工作原型。Q3D设备最初在UMSL眼科诊所进行了测试，随后在奥斯卡·A的带领下，在卡迪纳尔格伦农儿童医院进行了一项涉及300多名患者的临床试验。

Cruz, MD, and Bradley Davitt, MD..

克鲁兹博士和布拉德利·达维特博士。

Results from the trial were compelling:

试验结果令人信服：

• Effective in patients as young as 3 years old

• 对低至3岁的患者有效

• Four times more sensitive than the Worth Four Dot Test in detecting amblyopia-related impairments

• 在检测弱视相关损伤方面，比 Worth 四点测试敏感四倍

These findings highlight Q3D’s potential to identify amblyopia earlier, when interventions are most effective.

这些发现突显了 Q3D 在干预最有效的时期及早识别弱视的潜力。

Licensing Agreement with Forus Health

与Forus Health的许可协议

The technology has since been licensed by Forus Health, a company committed to equitable and early eye care solutions.

该技术此后已由致力于公平和早期眼部护理解决方案的公司Forus Health获得授权。

“At Forus Health, our mission has always been to enable early, equitable and impactful eye care,” said K. Chandrasekhar, Founder and CEO. “Licensing the Q3D technology aligns perfectly with that vision. It represents a significant step forward in our ongoing efforts to equip clinicians with cutting-edge tools that enhance diagnostic accuracy and patient outcomes.

“Forus Health的使命一直是实现早期、公平且有影响力的眼科护理，”创始人兼首席执行官K. Chandrasekhar表示。“获得Q3D技术的授权完全符合这一愿景。这代表了我们在为临床医生配备提升诊断准确性和患者治疗效果的尖端工具方面持续努力的重要一步。”

By bringing a more sensitive and accessible diagnostic tool for amblyopia into the hands of clinicians, we have the opportunity to change the trajectory of vision outcomes for millions of children worldwide.”.

通过将一种更敏感、更易获取的弱视诊断工具交到临床医生手中，我们有机会改变全球数百万儿童的视力结果轨迹。

Reference:

参考：

https://blogs.umsl.edu/news/2025/06/05/carl-bassi-develops-q3d-diagnostic-testing-device-for-early-detection-amblyopia/

https://blogs.umsl.edu/news/2025/06/05/carl-bassi-开发-q3d-诊断测试设备-用于早期检测弱视/