AmblyoPlay Alternatives: Cost, Availability, Evidence and Other Options

Updated 2026-10-20

Written by the Optics Trainer team from published research, with every source linked below. Not yet reviewed by a clinician.

AmblyoPlay is a game-based vision training program for tablets and computers that is often used by families dealing with lazy eye (amblyopia). People look for an AmblyoPlay alternative for a few reasons: the cost, the fact that it is not sold everywhere, or questions about how well it works. This guide covers what AmblyoPlay is, how its pricing works, how to check whether it is available where you live, what the research shows, and how it compares with Eye Hero, a program from the same company. It also explains where Optics Trainer fits and where it does not. Whatever you choose, start with a diagnosis and advice from your eye care professional.

What is AmblyoPlay?

AmblyoPlay is made by Hundred Vision, a company based in Slovenia. It is a set of games and exercises played for about 30 minutes a day, split into two 15-minute sessions. Players wear red-green filter glasses so each eye sees different things on the screen. The company says it is for lazy eye, mild strabismus, convergence insufficiency and other eye-teaming problems.

It runs on tablets and computers (Android, iPad, Windows and Mac), but not on phones or Chromebooks. The app is free to download, but it only works with a paid account. AmblyoPlay describes itself as a wellness tool and says it is not a medical device and does not diagnose, treat or prevent any condition. It is not FDA cleared, as far as we could find in the FDA's device database. Its FAQ advises getting a diagnosis before starting.

Is AmblyoPlay free? What it costs

No. AmblyoPlay's FAQ says it is not available for free, and that there is no free trial at the moment. You pay for a subscription and receive the filter glasses by mail.

When we checked its shop page on October 20, 2026, AmblyoPlay listed a monthly plan at $119 a month and a 6-month plan at $599, with the option to cancel anytime. The site also showed discount codes and seasonal offers. Prices may differ by country, so check current pricing with the company before you buy.

Is AmblyoPlay available in the US?

AmblyoPlay announced a US launch in 2019. As of October 20, 2026, though, the United States does not appear on the list of countries in its shipping FAQ, while countries such as Canada and the UK do. Its website also shows a message to some visitors saying AmblyoPlay is unavailable in their area. That message asks for a US state and points visitors to Eye Hero instead.

The company does not explain on its site why AmblyoPlay is unavailable in some places, so we will not guess. To check for yourself:

Look for your country in the shipping list in AmblyoPlay's FAQ
Watch for an "unavailable in your area" message when you try to order
Email AmblyoPlay's support team and ask whether they ship to your address
If you are in the US, ask your eye care professional whether they offer Eye Hero or another program

Does AmblyoPlay work? What the research shows

AmblyoPlay's research page points to one published study. In this 2025 pilot study from Turkey, 14 children aged 7 to 13 with amblyopia from a prescription difference between the eyes used AmblyoPlay for 20 minutes a day for 6 months. Vision in the weaker eye improved by about 1.5 lines on average, and depth perception also improved. The authors reported no competing interests.

This is an early result. The study was small and not randomized. The comparison group was children without amblyopia, not children with amblyopia who got another treatment or no treatment. That makes it hard to know how much of the change came from AmblyoPlay, from glasses, or from time. We did not find a randomized trial of AmblyoPlay. For comparison, the FDA-cleared treatments Luminopia and CureSight were each tested in randomized trials. Our lazy eye guide explains how several large trials of other tablet games turned out.

Eye Hero vs. AmblyoPlay

Eye Hero and AmblyoPlay come from the same company. Both apps are listed in Apple's App Store under Hundred Vision, and AmblyoPlay's site sends some visitors to Eye Hero. Eye Hero's official site is eye-hero.com, not eyehero.com.

The main difference is how you get it. AmblyoPlay is sold directly to families online. Eye Hero is built for eye care professionals: your provider gives you a kit with red-green glasses and an activation code, and can track your progress. Eye Hero's App Store listing describes 14 activities to help kids build visual skills. Like AmblyoPlay, it runs on tablets and computers, and its site says it does not diagnose or treat any condition.

Eye Hero's site does not list a price, an age range, insurance details or which countries it serves, so ask the provider. We did not find any published studies of Eye Hero.

AmblyoPlay, Eye Hero and Optics Trainer (checked October 2026)
Program	How you get it	Devices	Price	Published evidence
AmblyoPlay	Sold directly online; the US was not on its shipping list	Tablets and computers, not phones	$119/month or $599 for 6 months	One small 2025 pilot study (14 children, not randomized)
Eye Hero	Through an eye care provider, with a kit and activation code	Tablets and computers	Not published; ask the provider	None found
Optics Trainer	App stores or the web, no prescription	iPhone, iPad, Android, web, Meta Quest	$14.99/month or $149.99/year after a 7-day trial	Not tested in the studies above

AmblyoPlay for adults

AmblyoPlay says adults can use it and that more than a quarter of its users are adults, while noting that progress slows with age. The published pilot study included only children.

The wider research on adults is not encouraging. The American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus (AAPOS) says current amblyopia treatments do not work for adults, and in a trial that included adults, a binocular game did no better than a placebo game. An adult with a lazy eye should still get an eye exam to check glasses and eye health and talk through what is realistic.

Other options, and where Optics Trainer fits

For children with amblyopia, glasses, patching and atropine eye drops have the strongest evidence. Two prescription digital treatments, Luminopia and CureSight, are FDA cleared for certain children. Our guide to Luminopia alternatives explains who those are for.

Optics Trainer is a set of game-based vision and brain training apps for iPhone, iPad, Android, web browsers and Meta Quest. It includes binocular games where each eye gets its own target while both eyes stay open, plus eye teaming, convergence and divergence, depth and visual reaction games. Adults and children can use it without a prescription. Like AmblyoPlay and Eye Hero, it is not a diagnosis or a treatment for amblyopia, and it was not tested in the studies described above.

Optics Trainer is not a substitute for professional diagnosis or prescribed care. Consult your eye care professional for guidance about your specific condition. If your clinician agrees that home practice fits your plan, you can try the apps free for 7 days. After that, mobile and web access is $14.99 a month or $149.99 a year, and VR access is $19.99 a month or $199 a year.

Frequently asked questions

Is AmblyoPlay free?

No. The app is free to download, but it needs a paid AmblyoPlay account. Its FAQ says there is no free trial at the moment. The subscription includes the red-green filter glasses.

How much does AmblyoPlay cost?

On October 20, 2026, AmblyoPlay's shop page listed $119 a month, or $599 for 6 months, with discounts sometimes offered. Prices may vary by country, so check current pricing with the company.

Why is AmblyoPlay not available in the US?

AmblyoPlay does not give a reason on its website. As of October 2026, the US is not on its shipping list, and US visitors are pointed to Eye Hero, a provider-based program from the same company. Contact AmblyoPlay to confirm current availability.

Does AmblyoPlay work for adults?

AmblyoPlay says adults use it but improve more slowly. Its published study included only children. Research on amblyopia treatment in adults has mostly been disappointing, so talk with an eye care professional about realistic goals.

Is Eye Hero the same as AmblyoPlay?

They are separate programs from the same company, Hundred Vision. AmblyoPlay is sold directly to families. Eye Hero is offered through eye care providers, who supply the glasses and activation code. Both use red-green glasses on a tablet or computer.

Is AmblyoPlay FDA approved?

We found no FDA clearance for AmblyoPlay, and the company says it is not a medical device. The FDA-cleared digital amblyopia treatments we found are Luminopia and CureSight, both prescription only.