AnceFlex Stroboscopic Glasses

Abstract

AnceFlex® stroboscopic glasses are a neurovisual training tool from AnceFlex, a Belgian brand specialising in neuroscience-based training tools, operated by Oduxio SRL. Their lenses alternate between clear and occluded phases, reducing the visual information the wearer receives, so that the brain has to process and anticipate with less input.

Principle

• Stroboscopic occlusion: the lenses switch between transparent and occluded phases
• Reduced visual input: the wearer works with intermittent visual information
• Training effect: the manufacturer states that this trains visual information processing, reaction time, anticipation, eye-body coordination and decision making

Models

The glasses come in three models, which differ in the number of independently controlled screens per lens:

More screens per lens allow occlusion of parts of the visual field rather than the whole lens. A display on the frame shows the active setting.

Training Protocol

The manufacturer describes a simple comparison:

1. Baseline without the glasses
2. Exercise with the glasses on
3. Retest without the glasses, to compare performance

Example exercises include goalkeeper catching drills, partner work indoors and eye-foot coordination with a ball.

Applications

• Sport: athletes, coaches, physical trainers and goalkeepers
• Rehabilitation: functional rehabilitation, neurovisual work and return from injury, according to the goals of the supervising professional
• Coordination training: eye-hand and eye-foot coordination

Evidence and Regulatory Status

• The manufacturer gathers 43 scientific studies on stroboscopic training, and notes that they are not all trials of AnceFlex® glasses specifically, and that results depend on the population and the exercises
• The manufacturer's website does not state a CE marking or medical device class: check the regulatory status, and the contraindications such as photosensitive epilepsy, with the manufacturer before clinical use
• 2-year warranty

Availability

Developed in and shipped from Belgium, sold directly by the manufacturer, with a one-off purchase and no subscription.

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