QD laser eyewear as a visual field aid in a visual field defect model

Area of Science:

• Ophthalmology
• Biomedical Engineering
• Vision Science

Background:

• Visual field defects significantly impact daily life and quality of life for retinitis pigmentosa patients.
• The prevalence of retinitis pigmentosa is rising, particularly in aging populations.
• Current assistive devices for progressive visual field loss are limited.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the efficacy of a novel retinal projection eyewear system, QD laser eyewear, as a visual aid.
• To assess the device's ability to improve visual field area and recognition time in a simulated visual field defect model.

Main Methods:

• A retinal projection eyewear system (QD laser eyewear) with an integrated camera and Maxwellian view optics was developed.
• A pin-hole system simulated tunnel vision in 19 healthy adults to create a limited visual field model.
• Goldmann perimetry and figure recognition tests were conducted with and without the QD laser eyewear.

Main Results:

• The QD laser eyewear demonstrated an increase in visual field areas and angles.
• Recognition time for figures was significantly reduced when using the device.
• The device was shown to support and improve the quality of vision in the simulated model.

Conclusions:

• The QD laser eyewear shows promise as a functional visual aid for individuals with retinitis pigmentosa and other visual field defects.
• The developed visual field defect model effectively validated the device and informed future improvements.
• Further development of this technology could significantly enhance the quality of life for patients with progressive vision loss.