Virtual reality tests for everyday vision and daily tasks
Low Vision Assessments in Virtual Reality (LVAVR)
This project uses virtual reality to create consistent tests that show how people with low vision handle everyday visual tasks.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Johns Hopkins University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Baltimore, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11190952 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
You would try virtual reality scenes that mimic real-world tasks like finding objects, reading signs, navigating routes, and spotting details. The team builds on earlier VR activities they developed for people with ultra-low vision and expands them to cover a broader range of low vision. They will calibrate and standardize tasks so they work the same way across clinics and countries, adjusting for language and local differences. The goal is to create reliable tests clinicians and researchers can use to track how vision affects daily life.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Adults with low vision who have difficulty with reading, wayfinding, detail discrimination, or other visually guided daily activities would be the ideal candidates.
Not a fit: People with normal vision or those who cannot tolerate VR (for example due to severe motion sickness or cognitive limitations) are unlikely to benefit directly from this work.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, these standardized VR tests could make it easier to compare treatments and tailor rehabilitation to improve daily functioning for people with low vision.
How similar studies have performed: Previous work from this team produced reliable VR activities for people with ultra-low vision, so the approach has some preliminary success but is novel for the broader low-vision population.
Where this research is happening
Baltimore, United States
- Johns Hopkins University — Baltimore, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Dagnelie, Gislin — Johns Hopkins University
- Study coordinator: Dagnelie, Gislin
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 below.