Virtual reality training improves accommodative facility and accommodative range

Abstract Background To evaluate the effects of virtual reality (VR) training on different parameters of vision. Methods Individuals with healthy eyes admitted to the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University or Shulan Hospital from November 2018 to June 2019 were randomly divided into short-term (n = 40) and long-term (n = 20) treatment groups. They were given a specially designed VR training device only once for 15 minutes or 3–4 times a day for 15 minutes each time for one month. The visual acuity, spherical equivalent, accommodative range, accommodative facility, pupil size, and visual fatigue were evaluated before (control) and after VR training. Results The visual acuity, accommodative range, and accommodative facility increased in subjects of the short-term treatment group, whereas the pupil size contracted significantly. No significant changes in spherical equivalent and visual fatigue were observed. The changes in distant vision and corrected visual acuity were positively correlated with those in pupil size, but not with spherical equivalent. The accommodative range and accommodative facility improved significantly in subjects of the long-term treatment group. No significant changes in visual acuity, spherical equivalent, pupil size, and visual fatigue were noted. Conclusions VR training can improve the accommodative range and accommodative facility of human eyes. Although short-term VR training can transiently improve vision, which was probably due to bright light adaptation, there is no evidence that it can improve myopia. Trial registration: Retrospective registration ChiCTR2000029793. Date of Registration: 2020-02-14.