Low Vision Enhancement with Head-mounted Video Display Systems: Are We There Yet?

Abstract

Head-mounted video display systems and image processing as a means of enhancing low vision are ideas that have been around for more than 20 years. Recent developments in virtual and augmented reality technology and software have opened up new research opportunities that will lead to benefits for low vision patients. Since the Visionics low vision enhancement system (LVES), the first head-mounted video display LVES, was engineered 20 years ago, various other devices have come and gone with a recent resurgence of the technology over the past few years. In this article, we discuss the history of the development of LVESs, describe the current state of available technology by outlining existing systems, and explore future innovation and research in this area. Although LVESs have now been around for more than two decades, there is still much that remains to be explored. With the growing popularity and availability of virtual reality and augmented reality technologies, we can now integrate these methods within low vision rehabilitation to conduct more research on customized contrast-enhancement strategies, image motion compensation, image-remapping strategies, and binocular disparity, all while incorporating eye-tracking capabilities. Future research should use this available technology and knowledge to learn more about the visual system in the low vision patient and extract this new information to create prescribable vision enhancement solutions for the visually impaired individual.

Benefit of an electronic head‐mounted low vision aid

“…As more wearable low vision devices become available, a standardised test battery or unified task inventory of real‐life activities would enable true comparison of different devices and quantify their impact on performance of common daily tasks. No such comparison has yet been performed, and limited data are available on new wearable devices . Assessment of visual function beyond acuity and contrast sensitivity has been called for in a large‐scale review of visual function and quality of life in AMD and would enable comprehensive evaluation and benchmarking of all types of low vision aids.…”

“…Electronic head‐mounted low vision aids (e‐LVAs) have experienced a technological step change over the last decade . A 2017 review of head‐mounted displays for people with low vision highlighted the advantages of such technology over conventional desk‐mounted or handheld sight aids .…”

“…A 2015 review of 37 research papers highlighted the benefit of various image processing techniques for the visually impaired, albeit with inconsistent preferences between people . A more recent review of e‐LVAs illustrated existing strategies to sight enhancement and showed improvements in contrast sensitivity . However, to date, only two studies have been published demonstrating efficacy of wearables across substantial patient numbers: one for the eSight e‐LVA device, and one for Orcam, a spectacle mounted text‐to‐speech system .…”

Using Azure to construct recent architecture for visualize training in real-time

“…For the low vision patient, all information in the face image greater than three cycles/ degree is invisible. If the face image is magnified by 5, its contrast threshold function will shift to the left by 0.7 log cycles/degree (dashed green line) (15) . This technology builds through artificial intelligence (AI) to create spatial intelligence relationships between people, spaces, and devices.…”

Measuring changes in device use of a head-mounted low vision aid after personalised telerehabilitation: protocol for a feasibility study

“…With the massive evolution of new technologies, such as mobile and wearable devices, immersive systems (eg, virtual reality) have become more and more available for LV rehabilitation 6. A recent trend has been towards portable head-mounted displays (HMDs), providing hands-free magnification and contrast enhancements at all distances, using optoelectronics and real-time video technology 7. One of the first HMDs was the Low Vision Enhancement System that demonstrated its usefulness in adults8 9 and in children with LV by improving visual acuity, contrast sensitivity and control of ambient light 10.…”