The effects of electronic head-mounted displays in vision rehabilitation for patients with tunnel vision

Abstract

Abstract Purpose: To investigate the effect of a new head-mounted electronic visual aid-Acesight on improving visual function and daily activities in patients with tunnel vision. Methods: 57 patients with tunnel vision participated in this study. The visual field (VF), visual acuity (VA), search ability, time of finding people from the side (TFPS), walking ability and the subjective feelings of patients with and without Acesight were measured. Results: 15 (36%) patients thought Acesight was “helpful,” 16 (28%) thought it was “a little help,” and 26 (46%) believed that it was “not helpful.” The proportion of people aged < 60 years found Acesight helpful was higher. When wearing Acesight, the average horizontal VF diameter (°) (35.54[8.72]) and vertical VF diameter (°) (26.63[5.38]) were larger than those without visual aids (20.61[9.22], 18.19[6.67]) (P all < 0.001). The average TFPS before and while wearing the Acesight was 1.77s(0.32) and 1.19s(0.29), respectively (t = 14.28, P < 0.001). The average search times, number of collisions, walking speeds when wearing the Acesight were not statistically different from those without visual aids (P all > 0.05). Conclusion: More than half of patients with tunnel vision found the Acesight helpful, and a higher proportion of those aged < 60 years old found it helpful. Acesight can expand the horizontal and vertical VF of patients with tunnel vision and can enable patients to detect objects coming from the side earlier.