Aligning Visual Prosthetic Development With Implantee Needs

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Engineering
• Human-Computer Interaction
• Ophthalmology

Background:

• Visual prosthetics offer a promising avenue for restoring sight to individuals with vision loss.
• Current research often prioritizes technical aspects over the lived experiences of implant recipients.
• A comprehensive understanding of the daily use of visual implants is lacking.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the daily usage patterns of current visual prosthetic implants.
• To compare the real-world use of visual implants with researchers' expectations.
• To gather input from implant recipients on desired features for future visual prosthetic development.

Main Methods:

• Qualitative study involving semi-structured interviews with six visual implant recipients (Argus II and Orion).
• Interviews also conducted with six leading researchers in the visual prosthetics field.
• Thematic analysis was employed to analyze interview data, focusing on usage, usability, and future needs.

Main Results:

• Implant recipients use visual prosthetics less frequently than researchers anticipate, often due to usability and reliability concerns.
• Users frequently adopt alternative methods for tasks, reducing reliance on the implant.
• Key desired features for future implants include enhanced visual acuity, smart technology integration, and greater user independence.

Conclusions:

• A notable disparity exists between researchers' expectations and the actual experiences of visual prosthetic users.
• Future research should prioritize usability and real-world applicability to improve the clinical relevance of visual prosthetics.
• Aligning technological development with user needs is crucial for enhancing the practical utility of these assistive devices.