Virtual reality-based system and software for quick, accurate, and reproducible evaluation of functional vision capacity following clinical treatment

In 2013, the total economic burden of eye disorders and vision loss in the United States was $139 billion with projections to increase by ~20% over the following 10 years. Developing treatments for vision disorders face the unique challenge of requiring functional testing paradigms that reflect real-world situations while accurately evaluating visual function. Physical mobility test systems currently used to evaluate visual performance involve time consuming set-up procedures, cumbersome physical objects, and subjective evaluation parameters.

Virtual reality provides a platform to overcome the challenges with physical mobility tests and set ups. A virtual reality system minimizes the physical space needed to perform a mobility test while accurately reflecting real-world situations and allowing for unbiased quantification of patient performance.

Dr. Jean Bennett and her colleagues developed a virtual reality-based system and accompanying software of virtual mobility tests to effectively evaluate visual function. This versatile system isolates and controls multiple aspects of functional vision, allowing for an infinite number of outcomes depending on the patient’s response. 

Further, virtual reality mobility tests reflect daily physical challenges while eliminating the currently used subjective scoring system for patient performance. By systematically measuring multiple aspects of visual function in a diverse set of situations, this virtual reality-based system and tests provide an accurate and reproducible evaluation of visual function.

• Provides rapid virtual reality mobility testing in as little as 10 minutes, which is key for efficiently evaluating vision function
• Eliminates physical objects, which is key for reducing set up time and removing physical collision and tripping risks
• Provides testing adaptability based on patient performance, which is key for evaluating visual function throughout the entire spectrum of patients with vision loss
• Allows for objective and quantitative measurement of multiple vision parameters, which is key for reproducibly and accurately evaluating visual function
• Eliminates need for recording the subject’s performance through video or other means, thereby avoiding using of personal identifiers and assuring confidentiality.