Applications and implications for extended reality to improve binocular vision and stereopsis

Abstract

Extended reality (XR) devices, including virtual reality (VR), augmented reality (AR), and mixed reality (MR) devices, are immersive technologies that can swap or merge the natural environment with virtual content (e.g., videogames, movies, or other content). Although these devices are widely used for playing videogames and other applications, they have one distinct feature that makes them potentially very useful for the measurement and treatment of binocular vision anomalies—they can deliver different content to the two eyes simultaneously. Indeed, horizontally shifting the images in the two eyes (thereby creating binocular disparity) can provide the user with a compelling percept of depth through stereopsis. Because these devices are stereoscopic, they can also be used as high-tech synoptophores, in which the images to the two eyes differ in contrast, luminance, size, position, and content for measuring and treating binocular anomalies. The inclusion of eye tracking in VR adds an additional dimension to its utility in measuring and treating binocular vision anomalies, as well as other conditions. This paper describes the essential requirements for testing and treating binocular anomalies and reviews current studies in which XR devices have been used to measure and treat binocular vision anomalies.

Binocular rivalry under naturalistic geometry: Evidence from worlds simulated in virtual reality

“…BR incidence in modern assistive visual devices and augmented reality technologies are potential avenues of investigation too, for there is some evidence that BR suppression may occur in head-mounted displays used in mobility ( 64 ). Our study also demonstrates the potential of VR and 3D technology in bridging the laboratory findings with natural vision, building on a growing and diverse set of studies using VR to study perception in naturalistic settings ( 65–68 ) and as a tool to assess and potentially rehabilitate binocular vision anomalies ( 69 ). We anticipate more fruitful pursuits taking advantage of VR and 3D technology as empirical tools.…”

Efficacy of Amblyopia Treatments in Children Up to Seven Years Old: A Systematic Review

“…The uses of VR therapy and dichoptic therapy as novel forms of treatment for childhood amblyopia have gained much popularity in recent years. The ability to have dichoptic training, that is, presenting simultaneous yet separate stimuli to each eye, is what makes VR so intriguing as it bypasses the forced occlusion of the fellow eye seen with traditional occlusion therapy [ 38 , 39 ]. As stated before, the use of VR therapy has already been shown to maintain post-surgical eye position, improve binocular vision function, near stereovision acuity, and cure rate when used within one week of strabismus surgery [ 13 ].…”

Distinct rich and diverse clubs regulate coarse and fine binocular disparity processing: Evidence from stereoscopic task-based fMRI

“…These differences – termed binocular disparities – are the first step toward the evaluation of stereopsis. 1 Consequently, understanding the underlying neural mechanisms of binocular disparities has important implications, particularly in the assessment and treatment of eye disorders such as strabismus and amblyopia, 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 , 9 , 10 , 11 interaction with virtual reality, 12 , 13 and inverse problems in computer vision. 14 , 15 , 16 …”