Clinical report: Virtual reality enables comparable contrast sensitivity measurements to in-office testing (pilot...

Area of Science:

• Ophthalmology
• Medical Technology
• Vision Science

Background:

• Vision health disparities are often caused by limited access to eye care specialists.
• Improving patient access to vision tests and streamlining clinical workflows is crucial.
• Virtual reality (VR) presents a potential solution for evaluating contrast sensitivity.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine the validity of a VR-based Pelli-Robson contrast sensitivity test.
• To compare VR test outcomes with a standard in-office Pelli-Robson test.

Main Methods:

• Twenty-eight participants with corrected vision were enrolled.
• Participants underwent both in-office and VR Pelli-Robson tests in a randomized order.
• Test-retest consistency was assessed for both modalities using a commercial VR headset.

Main Results:

• No significant differences in contrast sensitivity scores were found between VR and in-office tests for either eye.
• High test-retest consistency was observed for both VR and in-office testing modalities.
• VR Pelli-Robson results showed strong correlation with in-office results in participants with visual impairments.

Conclusions:

• VR Pelli-Robson testing is a reliable alternative to in-office assessments for corrected vision.
• This technology can potentially enhance the interactivity and accessibility of vision testing.
• VR may help mitigate vision health disparities by improving access to specialized tests.