Severe peripheral field loss (PFL) sometimes called tunnel vision is a result of retinitis pigmentosa and related diseases as well as glaucoma. Currently there are no effective visual aids for these patients whose mobility is seriously affecte by this impairment. The novel concept of vision multiplexing as a design principle for low vision devices has provided guidance for the development of numerous devices for visual field losses. Spatial multiplexing by shifting, combined with biocular multiplexing, has been a proven effective aid for homonymous hemianopia. This approach, known as EP Prisms, uses unilateral prisms, and is applied to the peripheral field where double vision is well tolerated, and has evolved into a successful optical treatment. In numerous studies half or more of patients fitted with the EP prisms continue to wear and use the device over a long term and reported improved mobility. For PFL, Trifield prism spectacles, a biocular multiplexing device that applied central visual confusion to patients with tunnel vision (e. g., due to RP) has proven much more difficult. Despite there being no alternative aids available, and despite it being effective for 25% of patients, it has not made inroads in the marketplace. It is very complicated to construct and most patient find the central double vision it imposes disturbing. In considering the successful and limiting aspects of both approaches, the main requirements of patients with severe PFL, and the dynamic of a walking situation, we have designed a new visual aid, Quadrafield lens (creating artificial peripheral visual islands). This is achieved by applying near peripheral fiel expansion while avoiding the central confusion and fields tradeoffs of prior designs. We also invented a new optical element, a multiplexing prism that can be applied to this and other devices. Multiplexing prisms provide simultaneous (monocularly) superimposed views of the shifted and direct see-through fields of view. The maintenance of the see through view permits treatment of monocular patients. It also permits fitting the prisms closer to the central field, a even with occasional encroachment, due to head movements, foveal vision is not completely blocked. In addition we have found a way to convert the regular vertical head bobbing motion into a lateral scanning through the prisms, implementing temporal multiplexing. Here we propose to implement, tune, and test the effectiveness of the multiplexing prisms as an aid for PFL, when used in the Quadrafield lens in laboratory studies and culminating in a multicenter randomized control clinical trial.

Public Health Relevance

There is no acceptable visual aid for patients with severe peripheral field loss due to RP and glaucoma. We propose the development and testing of a new visual aid using a novel optical element and new design concepts. Following the proposed randomized-controlled multi center clinical trial to establish the effectiveness of the device, we will be able to bring an inexpensive and effective aid to the market which will lead to greater independence and improved quality of life of these patients.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Eye Institute (NEI)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01EY023385-05
Application #
9335852
Study Section
Bioengineering of Neuroscience, Vision and Low Vision Technologies Study Section (BNVT)
Program Officer
Wiggs, Cheri
Project Start
2013-09-30
Project End
2019-02-28
Budget Start
2017-09-01
Budget End
2019-02-28
Support Year
5
Fiscal Year
2017
Total Cost
Indirect Cost
Name
Schepens Eye Research Institute
Department
Type
DUNS #
073826000
City
Boston
State
MA
Country
United States
Zip Code
02114
Jung, Jae-Hyun; Peli, Eli (2018) No Useful Field Expansion with Full-field Prisms. Optom Vis Sci 95:805-813
Qiu, Cheng; Jung, Jae-Hyun; Tuccar-Burak, Merve et al. (2018) Measuring Pedestrian Collision Detection With Peripheral Field Loss and the Impact of Peripheral Prisms. Transl Vis Sci Technol 7:1
Jung, Jae-Hyun; Peli, Eli (2018) Field Expansion for Acquired Monocular Vision Using a Multiplexing Prism. Optom Vis Sci 95:814-828
Houston, Kevin E; Peli, Eli; Goldstein, Robert B et al. (2018) Driving With Hemianopia VI: Peripheral Prisms and Perceptual-Motor Training Improve Detection in a Driving Simulator. Transl Vis Sci Technol 7:5
Bowers, A R; Dickinson, C; Peli, E (2017) Comments about outcome measures for clinical trials of interventions for post-stroke patients with hemianopia. Acta Neurol Scand 136:548-550
Peli, Eli; Jung, Jae-Hyun (2017) Multiplexing Prisms for Field Expansion. Optom Vis Sci 94:817-829
Houston, Kevin E; Bowers, Alex R; Fu, Xianping et al. (2016) A Pilot Study of Perceptual-Motor Training for Peripheral Prisms. Transl Vis Sci Technol 5:9
Peli, Eli; Bowers, Alex R; Keeney, Karen et al. (2016) High-Power Prismatic Devices for Oblique Peripheral Prisms. Optom Vis Sci 93:521-33
Peli, Eli; Apfelbaum, Henry; Berson, Eliot L et al. (2016) The risk of pedestrian collisions with peripheral visual field loss. J Vis 16:5
Tomasi, Matteo; Pundlik, Shrinivas; Bowers, Alex R et al. (2016) Mobile gaze tracking system for outdoor walking behavioral studies. J Vis 16:27

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