Visual Field Loss: Integrating Overlayed Information to Increase the Effective Field of View

Citation

Asher JM & Hibbard PB (2022) Visual Field Loss: Integrating Overlayed Information to Increase the Effective Field of View. Vision, 6 (4), Art. No.: 67. https://doi.org/10.3390/vision6040067

Abstract
Visual field loss is a debilitating impairment that can impact normal daily activities. The advancement of augmented and virtual realities brings opportunities for potential substitutive technologies for visual field loss. Here we outline a conceptual approach to increasing the amount of useful information by overlaying the blind field into the sighted field. In this proof-of-concept experiment, 33 observers were allocated to either a left or right blind condition (with a simulated scotoma). All observers completed a line bisection task in all three conditions (baseline, scotoma, manipulation), with the baseline condition always completed first. The scotoma condition (baseline with the addition of a simulated scotoma) and the manipulated condition (baseline with the addition of a simulated scotoma, and a “minified window overlay”) were randomised in order of presentation. Predictably, our results show that a simulated scotoma impaired performance on the task. However, observers were able to make use the overlay to improve their estimation of the line’s midpoint. Our results show that a substitutive augmentation of this type improved accuracy in estimating the midpoint of a line with a (simulated) scotoma.

Keywords
visual field loss; scotoma; hemianopia; augmented reality; assistive technology; rehabilitation

Journal
Vision: Volume 6, Issue 4

People

Dr Jordi Asher

Lecturer in Psychology, Psychology