Efficacy of Enhancing Low Vision Mobility Thru Visual Training in Virtual World

NCT02310880 | Completed

• 1 other identifier: X100716003
• Study Type: observational
• Target: 35
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

Low vision patients have difficulty acquiring sufficient visual information in a timely manner for the purpose of performing challenging daily tasks, such as traveling independently and safely through busy streets. The advance of virtual reality techniques has provided a potential platform for training low vision patients to use their remaining vision more efficiently, but the key issue is always whether the patient's visual experiences in a virtual world can be transferred to the real world. The proposed study is designed to provide definite answer to this question.

Conditions

Low Vision

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• The percentage of dangerous street crossing decisions and the street crossing decision safety scores

  The percentage of dangerous street crossing decisions is determined at real street corners during pre- and post-training evaluation sessions. The subject is asked to say "GO" when she feels it is the safest time to cross the street. A crossing decision is scored as dangerous if it is initiated in the red traffic light cycle or if there is \< 25% of the "WALK" cycle left. The percentage is the total number of dangerous decisions divided by the total number of crossing decisions made during one evaluation session. The safety of a crossing decision is further quantified by recording the decision timing using a stopwatch and by converting the recorded time to a safety score. The safety score is a continuous scale between 0 and 1.0. The larger the safety score, the safer is the crossing decision. A statistically significant reduction in the percentage dangerous crossing decisions and an increase in the safety scores after training is an indication of successful skill learning and transfer.

  3-5 1-hour visits

Study Arms (2)

Low vision (virtual street training)

Low vision subjects trained in virtual streets and observed in real streets

Low vision (real street training)

Low vision subjects trained in real streets and observed in real streets

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 19 Years - 81 Years
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: No
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)
• Sampling Method: Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

Low vision participants will be recruited from the patient populations of the Clinics of UAB School of Optometry and UAB Center for Low Vision Rehabilitation

You may qualify if:

• Ambulatory and have independent traveling as one of their rehabilitation goals.
• Participants with central field loss should have best corrected binocular visual acuity between 20/200 and 20/1000, but with relatively intact peripheral visual field (\>80o).
• Participants with peripheral visual field loss should have \>20/63 visual acuity and no more than 20 deg diameter but not less than 8 deg diameter visual field in the better eye.

You may not qualify if:

• Participants who have a mixture of central and peripheral field loss.
• Previous or current recipient of O\&M training.
• Participants who have plans to receive O\&M training during the study period.
• Age younger than 19 or older than 81.
• Significant cognitive impairment as determined with the Short Portable Mental Status Questionnaire (≥2 errors); inability to understand and speak English.
• Severe hearing impairment that interferes with interactions with O\&M specialists.
• Inability or unwillingness to make visits required by the study.
• Not living in the Birmingham-Jefferson county area.
• Persons who have a history of epilepsy or who are prone to motion sickness or simulator aftereffect, determined by an epileptic seizure history inquiry and a Motion Sickness History Questionnaire.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• University of Alabama at Birmingham: lead

Study Sites (1)

The Clinical Eye Research Facility

Birmingham, Alabama, 35294, United States

Location

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Vision, Low

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Vision Disorders; Sensation Disorders; Neurologic Manifestations; Nervous System Diseases; Eye Diseases; Signs and Symptoms; Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms

Study Officials

• Lei Liu, PhD

  University of Alabama at Birmingham

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Study Design

• Study Type: observational
• Observational Model: CASE CONTROL
• Time Perspective: PROSPECTIVE
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: SPONSOR

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: December 3, 2014
• First Posted: December 8, 2014
• Study Start: September 1, 2010
• Primary Completion: March 1, 2015
• Study Completion: March 1, 2015
• Last Updated: May 27, 2015

Record last verified: 2014-12

Locations

US (1)