Periodic Reporting for period 2 - OptiVisT (European Training and Research Program in Translational Vision Science to ensure Optimal support of Visually Impaired Individuals through Tests and Tools of Functional Vision)
Período documentado: 2023-03-01 hasta 2025-02-28
In Europe, more than 20 million adults and children are living with a vision impairment. OptiVisT is about enabling each of them, regardless of their visual capacities, to reach their full potential in life by providing better insight into their functional vision. This means focusing on what they can achieve, rather than the problems. OptiVisT’s fellows studied human vision and visual impairment for this. Together, they came up with new methods for assessing, training and augmenting functional vision — how people use their sight in real-world activities. Using technologies like eye-tracking, artificial intelligence (AI), virtual reality (VR), and brainwave analysis, their studies push the boundaries of traditional vision testing and rehabilitation.
Through our combined efforts, we've made significant strides in understanding vision and visual impairments, developing new diagnostic tools, and creating helpful technologies.
We found that how people look around while climbing stairs depends on their habits, the instructions they receive, and their surroundings. This discovery can help create better rehabilitation plans for visually impaired individuals by tailoring advice to each person's needs instead of using a general approach. We also learned that certain types of vision loss, like "non-overlapping visual field defects," can greatly affect daily life, movement perception, and even mental health. This challenges the idea that early-stage glaucoma has no symptoms.
Our team designed new tests to better understand how people see objects out of the corner of their eye. These tests showed that people with early-stage glaucoma have trouble processing busy scenes, even before they notice vision loss. We also made a set of eye-tracking tests that measure functional vision more accurately than standard tests used in para sports. This can help reduce wrong classifications and make competitions fairer.
Using virtual reality (VR) and artificial intelligence (AI), we studied how glaucoma affects movement and navigation. We found that while glaucoma patients move more slowly, they can still navigate well. We also discovered that damage to the retina affects how people move and navigate. Additionally, we identified four types of vision impairment in children and found that retinal scans can help diagnose these conditions.
We created a vision testing system using smart glasses that can monitor vision at home. We also found that sending simple pen-and-paper vision tests to people's homes can help manage waiting lists better. Our research showed that many people have wrong ideas about glaucoma, especially younger, less-educated, and non-white groups.
Our team introduced a new method that tracks eye movements while watching short videos, giving insights into how well people see. This "free-viewing perimetry" approach can make vision testing easier and more accessible. We developed a game called "V-Spy Scotoma" that uses VR to map and simulate vision loss areas, showing how they affect perception. We also created a VR environment that showed how vision loss changes how people perceive sounds around them.
We made a method to measure vision clarity using brainwaves, which doesn't need verbal responses and makes vision tests more reliable for people who struggle with standard exams. Using AI, we improved mobile eye-tracking accuracy and developed a system to help people with prosthetic vision recognise objects better.
Finally, we created a bracelet that uses small vibrations to guide the hand towards objects, giving a "sense of touch" for visually impaired people. This device can help increase independence in daily tasks. Our achievements help improve the understanding and treatment of vision impairments, offering new solutions and a better quality of life for those affected.
We found that how people look around while climbing stairs depends on their habits, the instructions they receive, and their surroundings. This discovery can help create better rehabilitation plans for visually impaired individuals by tailoring advice to each person's needs instead of using a general approach. We also learned that certain types of vision loss, like "non-overlapping visual field defects," can greatly affect daily life, movement perception, and even mental health. This challenges the idea that early-stage glaucoma has no symptoms.
Our team designed new tests to better understand how people see objects out of the corner of their eye. These tests showed that people with early-stage glaucoma have trouble processing busy scenes, even before they notice vision loss. We also made a set of eye-tracking tests that measure functional vision more accurately than standard tests used in para sports. This can help reduce wrong classifications and make competitions fairer.
Using virtual reality (VR) and artificial intelligence (AI), we studied how glaucoma affects movement and navigation. We found that while glaucoma patients move more slowly, they can still navigate well. We also discovered that damage to the retina affects how people move and navigate. Additionally, we identified four types of vision impairment in children and found that retinal scans can help diagnose these conditions.
We created a vision testing system using smart glasses that can monitor vision at home. We also found that sending simple pen-and-paper vision tests to people's homes can help manage waiting lists better. Our research showed that many people have wrong ideas about glaucoma, especially younger, less-educated, and non-white groups.
Our team introduced a new method that tracks eye movements while watching short videos, giving insights into how well people see. This "free-viewing perimetry" approach can make vision testing easier and more accessible. We developed a game called "V-Spy Scotoma" that uses VR to map and simulate vision loss areas, showing how they affect perception. We also created a VR environment that showed how vision loss changes how people perceive sounds around them.
We made a method to measure vision clarity using brainwaves, which doesn't need verbal responses and makes vision tests more reliable for people who struggle with standard exams. Using AI, we improved mobile eye-tracking accuracy and developed a system to help people with prosthetic vision recognise objects better.
Finally, we created a bracelet that uses small vibrations to guide the hand towards objects, giving a "sense of touch" for visually impaired people. This device can help increase independence in daily tasks. Our achievements help improve the understanding and treatment of vision impairments, offering new solutions and a better quality of life for those affected.
Our research has significantly advanced the understanding of vision and visual impairments, pushing beyond the current state of the art in several key areas. We have developed innovative diagnostic tools and assistive technologies that offer more precise and accessible vision assessments, emphasizing the importance of considering functional vision alongside conventional measures. For instance, our eye-tracking methods and VR-based tests provide objective, data-driven evaluations that can reduce misclassification in para sports and improve rehabilitation strategies.
The potential impacts of our work are far-reaching. Socio-economically, our home-based vision testing systems and low-tech solutions can make vision care more accessible and cost-effective, reducing the burden on healthcare systems. These innovations can lead to earlier detection and better management of vision impairments, improving the quality of life for affected individuals and potentially reducing healthcare costs associated with late-stage interventions.
Wider societal implications include enhanced independence and participation for visually impaired individuals. Our assistive technologies, such as the bracelet that guides hand movements, can improve daily functioning and social integration. Additionally, our findings challenge existing misconceptions about glaucoma and vision loss, promoting better public awareness and understanding.
Our research opens new possibilities for early intervention, inclusive vision assessments, and personalized training and technologies. By moving beyond conventional vision measures, we can provide more tailored and effective support, ultimately improving the quality of life for those with vision impairments. Overall, our project has the potential to transform vision care, making it more inclusive, accurate, and efficient, with significant benefits for both individuals and society as a whole.
The potential impacts of our work are far-reaching. Socio-economically, our home-based vision testing systems and low-tech solutions can make vision care more accessible and cost-effective, reducing the burden on healthcare systems. These innovations can lead to earlier detection and better management of vision impairments, improving the quality of life for affected individuals and potentially reducing healthcare costs associated with late-stage interventions.
Wider societal implications include enhanced independence and participation for visually impaired individuals. Our assistive technologies, such as the bracelet that guides hand movements, can improve daily functioning and social integration. Additionally, our findings challenge existing misconceptions about glaucoma and vision loss, promoting better public awareness and understanding.
Our research opens new possibilities for early intervention, inclusive vision assessments, and personalized training and technologies. By moving beyond conventional vision measures, we can provide more tailored and effective support, ultimately improving the quality of life for those with vision impairments. Overall, our project has the potential to transform vision care, making it more inclusive, accurate, and efficient, with significant benefits for both individuals and society as a whole.