Using virtual reality to measure progress during low vision rehabilitation

Validation of a Virtual Reality Test for the Assessment of Visually Impaired Patients Undergoing Low Vision Rehabilitation

This project will test a 20-minute virtual reality test (VisionumVR on a Meta Quest 3) to measure functional vision in people with low vision who are starting or undergoing orthoptic rehabilitation.

Quick facts

• Phase: Not applicable
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 60 (estimated)
• Ages: 18 Years and up
• Sex: All
• Sponsor: Fondation Ophtalmologique Adolphe de Rothschild (Research network)
• Locations: 2 sites (Angers and 1 other locations)
• Trial ID: NCT07092124 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this trial studies

The trial uses VisionumVR, a standardized 20-minute virtual reality test delivered on a Meta Quest 3 headset, to probe hand–eye coordination, visual discrimination, and visual exploration through a task inspired by daily activities. Participants who are beginning or already receiving orthoptic low vision rehabilitation will complete the VR test across their rehabilitation course to track change over time. The aim is to determine whether the VR task produces reliable, repeatable measures of functional vision that correlate with rehabilitation progress. Testing excludes people with conditions or medications that could interfere with performance (for example, epilepsy or significant motor impairment).

Who should consider this trial

Good fit: Adults with low vision who are starting or have begun orthoptic low vision rehabilitation, have binocular visual acuity of at least 1/20 (≤ 1.3 logMAR), can attend at least five rehabilitation sessions before study end, and understand French.

Not a fit: People with neurodegenerative disease, a history of seizures, significant dominant-upper-limb dysfunction, taking medications that impair motor/visual/cognitive function, pregnant women, or those unable to wear a VR headset or follow study procedures are unlikely to benefit from this test.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this could give clinicians a quick, standardized, and engaging way to track patients' functional vision and rehabilitation progress.

How similar studies have performed: Small pilot studies and early work suggest VR can help low vision rehabilitation, but standardized, validated VR functional tests like VisionumVR remain limited and are still being tested.

Eligibility criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

* Patient (regardless of visual pathology) who is about to begin or has begun orthoptic low vision rehabilitation;
* Patient requiring at least five orthoptic rehabilitation sessions that can be completed before the end of the study;
* Binocular visual acuity ≥ 1/20 (≤ 1.3 logMAR), regardless of type of vision loss (central, mixed, or peripheral);
* Sufficient knowledge of the French language.

Exclusion Criteria:

* Neurodegenerative diseases or any other condition that could interfere with the planned assessments in this study (known epilepsy and/or history of seizures, dysfunction of the dominant upper limb, etc.);
* Medications that may cause motor, visual, or cognitive impairments (neuroleptics, etc.) or interfere with the study assessments;
* Pregnant women (pregnancy can cause vision fluctuations, and wearing a virtual reality headset is not recommended);
* Participation in another clinical trial that may interfere with the current study;
* Inability to follow instructions or read.

Where this trial is running

Angers and 1 other locations

• Centre Régional Basse Vision et Trouble de l'Audition — Angers, France (Recruiting)
• Institut de Réadaptation Visuelle Saint-Louis — Paris, France (Recruiting)

Study contacts

• Study coordinator: Amelie Yavchitz, Dr

Conditions Low Vision