Optical Head-Mounted Display Technology for Low Vision Rehabilitation

Worldwide it is estimated that 191 million people have moderate to severe visual impairment (MSVI) and an additional 32.4 million are blind. Patients with uncorrectable MSVI may undergo low vision rehabilitation (LVR), which has been shown to improve functional abilities, such as mobility. However, existing LVR strategies do not adequately address severe visual field constriction.

In this pilot study, the investigators will test the hypothesis that optical head-mounted display (HMD) technology expands constricted visual fields and improves mobility outcomes for patients with retinal dystrophy. We will use the Moverio HMD platform which is considered a non-significant risk device. Outcomes for patients with retinal dystrophy will be compared to normal age-matched controls.

Inclusion criteria

for subjects with retinal dystrophy:

• diagnosis of retinal dystrophy
• severe vision loss that constitutes legal blindness
• able to perform a reliable Goldmann visual field test
• constricted visual field less than or equal to 20 degrees by Goldmann perimetry using the III4e stimulus in at least one eye with best-corrected visual acuity ≥ 20/60

Inclusion criteria

for control subjects:

• healthy controls
• visit history with the Comprehensive and Pediatric Ophthalmology Services at the University of Michigan
• able to perform a reliable Goldmann visual field test

Exclusion criteria

for subjects with retinal dystrophy:

• movement disorder that precludes evaluation of mobility
• functional vision loss
• pregnant women

Exclusion criteria

for control subjects:

• visually significant ocular condition other than correctable refractive error
• movement disorder that precludes evaluation of mobility
• functional vision loss
• pregnant women