Beacon Sensors and Telerehabilitation for Low Vision Device Use
Official title: Beacon Sensors and Telerehabilitation to Assess and Improve use of Devices (BeST-AID) for Low Vision
Funded at University of California Los Angeles · NIH-11383571 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Aimed at people with low vision, this project tests whether real-time video rehab and small Bluetooth beacons can help patients learn and keep using magnifier devices.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California Los Angeles NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Los Angeles, United States) |
| Project start | September 30, 2023 |
| Project end | June 30, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $359,984 |
| NIH project number | 5R01EY034627-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11383571 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults with low vision who rely on magnification devices and have access to home internet and a smartphone.
✕Less likely to help
Patients without access to or comfort with using home videoconferencing or BLE-enabled devices may not benefit.
What this research studies
If you have low vision, getting training for magnifier devices is hard because of travel and health concerns. The study explores telerehabilitation where a clinician guides you remotely while you’re at home, and uses beacon sensors on magnifiers to monitor how you’re using them. The team will compare home telerehabilitation to traditional in-office sessions and look for a system that flags when someone might stop using the device so help can be offered quickly. This approach combines technology you use daily (cell phones, BLE beacons) with virtual visits to support daily living activities like reading.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, patients could get effective eye-care support at home, potentially improving independence with reading and daily tasks.
How similar studies have gone: Preliminary evidence suggests telerehabilitation can be feasible and acceptable, with similar reading benefits to in-office care, but definitive comparisons are needed.
Where this research is happening
-
University of California Los Angeles
Los Angeles, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Bittner, Ava K — University of California Los Angeles
- Study coordinator: Bittner, Ava K
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.