Feasibility Test of Virtual Reality Obstacle Detection for Low Vision Walking

Not Applicable

Active, not recruiting

• Conditions: Homonymous Hemianopia; Tunnel Vision; Visual Field Defect Homonymous Bilateral; Hemianopsia; Visual Field Constriction Bilateral; Visual Field Defect, Peripheral
• Interventions: Other: Field expansion view

• Registration Number: NCT05141604
• Lead Sponsor: Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary

Brief Summary

The investigators are developing a new test of pedestrian hazard detection in virtual reality (VR) head-mounted display (HMD) headset, which shows virtual oncoming pedestrians in 3D while subjects are walking in real-world environment, for evaluation of visual field expansion to improve mobility in people with visual field loss.

Detailed Description

The investigators will develop a new pedestrian hazard detection test and conduct a single arm interventional clinical trial to evaluate simulated low vision assistive devices in a sample of field loss subjects. Pedestrian detection performance with and without field expansion information will be tested and compared. The study will include 1 to 4 visits (each 2 to 4 hours) depending on the number of trials and experimental conditions (e.g., with and without simulated assistive devices) the subject is comfortable completing. The time between visits may vary depending on scheduling constraints and availability. During each visit, the subject will complete a series of simulated collision avoidance trials in VR requiring the detection and natural avoidance of a colliding pedestrian (alongside non-colliding pedestrians) while physically walking through an empty corridor. The study will be considered minimal-risk since there will be no physical obstacles that present actual collision risks.

Study Timeline

• Study First Submitted: 2021-11-19
• Study First Submitted QC: 2021-11-19
• Study First Posted: 2021-12-02
• Study Start: 2022-05-17
• Primary Completion: 2024-09-30
• Status Verified: 2025-03
• Last Update Submitted: 2025-03-13
• Last Update Posted: 2025-03-18
• Study Completion: 2025-05-31

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: ACTIVE_NOT_RECRUITING
• Sex: All
• Target Recruitment: 15

Inclusion Criteria

Not provided

Exclusion Criteria

Not provided

Study & Design

• Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Design: SINGLE_GROUP

Arm && Interventions

Group	Intervention	Description
Field expansion view	Field expansion view	Various configurations of field expansion views will be additionally displayed on HMD

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Response time	Through study completion, an average of four months	During the pedestrian detection task, average response time to the colliding pedestrian with and without prisms

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Head movement range	Through study completion, an average of four months	During the pedestrian detection task, lateral and vertical head movement range to check the head scanning range
Walking speed	Through study completion, an average of four months	During the pedestrian detection task, the physical walking speed of the subject
Error rate	Through study completion, an average of four months	Proportion of false alarms and missed targets to total targets
Pedestrian detection rate	Through study completion, an average of four months	Proportion of simulated pedestrians detected (in HMD walking)

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Schepens Eye Research Institute; 🇺🇸 Boston, Massachusetts, United States