Virtual Reality Visual Field Test

[ahr218]

I am currently an undergrad student in a Product Innovation course researching opportunities to improve a range of screening and monitoring procedures in eye care.

We are considering the potential for a portable, low-cost device to be used to screen and monitor issues related to vision loss – particularly an impaired visual field often associated with Glaucoma. Our device would use immersive, virtual reality technology, and it would be capable of being easily administered by a technician with the results available to a qualified specialist to evaluate.

The ultimate goal of this project will be to allow more patients to be screened, especially in areas where there might be a shortage of optometrists and ophthalmologists. Additionally, it could allow ophthalmologists to increase their screening capacity and serve patients unable to visit an office.

Do you have any thoughts on this concept?

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[backrow]

I'm not sure how virtual reality would work to complete a visual field test. The person needs a fixation target to look at while they have some sort of stimulus in the periphery to respond to without looking around. Not sure how virtual reality would play a role there, but I'm probably missing something.

Now, developing a way to test automated visual fields in an inexpensive, reliable, accurate, and easily transportable way....I'm onboard with that!


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[ahr218]

Actually, there are virtual reality headsets that have vision tracking. So, the test would operate in a similar way to the HFA, in that your gaze would be fixated and the software could tell (via eye tracking) when your gaze isn't fixated.

 

[backrow]

Actually, there are virtual reality headsets that have vision tracking. So, the test would operate in a similar way to the HFA, in that your gaze would be fixated and the software could tell (via eye tracking) when your gaze isn't fixated.

What I'm confused on is how virtual reality would play a role. I get the potential use of a headset, but I'm not understanding the VR application in this type of setting. What reality do you need to augment?


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[ahr218]

What I'm confused on is how virtual reality would play a role. I get the potential use of a headset, but I'm not understanding the VR application in this type of setting. What reality do you need to augment?


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Instead of using the HFA machine which is large and costly, the SITA test could be mimicked on a VR headset.
The idea is that this could be used as an initial screening method for patients in rural areas that don't have access to ophthalmologists and their high-end machines. The local PCPs could have a simpler and cheaper, but still accurate, preliminary test to screen patients.

 

[DrZeke]

You would have to invest a lot of training into people administering these tests correctly.


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[MstaKing10]

The HVF bowl for example could be virtually recreated. Lots of challenges, for example, how do you confirm reliability and accuracy compared to current standard testing? How do you collect normative data? By testing on a lot of patients I supposed. I think it's a great idea. The prescription is already dialed into their spectacle correction but if there is none this has to be compensated for. Training would be less intensive I think since the software could run a tutorial and can compensate for eye movements etc. As a screening tool it makes sense. Any abnormality would be immediately referred to an ophthalmologist and this would be good for practice building. Similar devices for monitoring AMD already exist (virtual Amsler grid etc) and has been attempted for diabetes for decades. Good luck with development

 

[hurdlepup]

You'll have to consider the optics of the high plus lenses on the VR headsets as well. "Pincushion effects"


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[peter2013]

Don't you need binocularity for these virtual reality headsets? Glaucoma testing, as far as I have ever seen it, is tested one eye at a time.

 

[KHE]

What would be much better than this is a better objective way of testing visual fields.

 

[jonizzy]

It works with some modifications. We use a SITA protocol test for binocular fixation, monocular stimulus presentation using the oculus rift. Problem is monitoring fixation, which can be solved with something like a raspberry pi camera for each eye. Cheap solution. I think there are some vr headsets with quality eye tracking built in. This is a great solution for patients with mobility issues as positioning them for extended periods can be difficult.