Abstract
In the professional training field, virtual reality (VR) has received growing interest due to the advantages it provides over traditional means such as simulators: it is immersive but portable. However, the unpleasant side-effects of virtual reality, grouped under the term of cybersickness have hindered or slowed its widespread adoption. In the present study, we investigated the impact of a VR procedure trainer, dedicated to airline pilots, on their vision and well-being. The airline pilots’ license is subject to medical criteria, particularly regarding eyesight. It is thus mandatory to check that VR use will not impact their vision. Moreover, most laboratory studies exploring cybersickness and/or impacts on vision are based on young subjects (< 40 years old). Since the training tool targeted a broader age ranged population (20–60 y.o.), only pilots in the underrepresented age-range were included (i.e. 40-60y.o). 26 professional pilots took part to the experiment, included in 2 successive waves (14 pilots in the 1st group, 12 in the second). They performed three VR sessions on three consecutive days of increasing duration from 20 to 60 minutes. Their cybersickness symptoms were tracked, and accommodation and convergence parameters were measured before and after exposure. We did not find any deleterious impact on vision, and observed mild cybersickness symptoms in the first group, that led the team to suppress a short part of a lesson that was designated as problematic by all pilots. We did not observe any cybersickness symptoms in the second group following this modification. By systematically assessing the well-being of pilots during and after VR exposure, we managed the cybersickness risk.