Assistive peripheral prosthetic vision aids perception and mobility in outdoor environments: A virtual-reality...

Area of Science:

• Ophthalmology
• Neuroscience
• Biomedical Engineering

Background:

• Retinitis pigmentosa (RP) causes progressive vision loss, leading to constricted visual fields (VF) and mobility impairments.
• Current retinal prostheses primarily target late-stage RP, often after significant central vision loss.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the feasibility of using peripheral visual prostheses in early-stage RP patients with residual central vision.
• To assess the potential of bionic vision to improve scene perception and mobility during navigation.

Main Methods:

• Simulated prosthetic vision and residual central vision within a virtual reality mobility environment.
• Assessed the impact of assistive phosphene layouts on visual scanning, head movements, body rotations, and obstacle avoidance behaviors.

Main Results:

• Assistive phosphene layouts significantly reduced visual scanning head movements (up to 42.1%) and body rotations (up to 30%).
• Participants demonstrated a reduced frequency of stopping (up to 45%) when navigating around obstacles and following paths.
• The combination of prosthetic and residual vision showed promise for enhancing mobility in early RP.

Conclusions:

• Peripheral visual prostheses may offer substantial benefits for mobility in individuals with early-stage RP.
• Early intervention with retinal implants, even with coexisting central vision, warrants further investigation.
• This approach could enhance independence and quality of life for RP patients by addressing mobility challenges sooner.