ENGINEERING APPROACHES TO LOW VISION REHABILITATION

描述(由申请人提供)：本提案继续应用新的工程方法进行低视力康复。我们正在开发原型设备，旨在帮助有中央和外围视力障碍的人。这些设备是在工程合作伙伴的帮助下制造的，在临床合作伙伴的帮助下，在不同的患者群体中进行严格评估，以确定对功能和生活质量的影响。我们建议继续开发和测试光学和电子设备，旨在恢复中央(高分辨率)和外围(宽视场)视觉的重要相互作用。我们将继续探索视觉多路复用概念在这方面的效用。我们的评估和测试结合了虚拟环境，以便在实验室进行受控和定量测试，并在街道上进行评估，以确定这些设备在日常生活活动中的效果和实用性，如行走、驾驶、阅读和看电视。美观的可接受性和人体工程学是设计这些设备的首要任务。我们还在开发培训方法，以确保设备的有效使用和适应；这种培训方法应该会导致更好地使用设备，并可能有助于设计更有效的康复计划。首席研究员：拉塞尔·伍兹(项目经理；虚拟行走模拟器研究；双目多路复用)，罗伯特·戈尔茨坦(所有计算工作)，亚历克斯·鲍尔斯(驾驶研究；真实世界步行)，Gang Luo(与微光公司就头盔显示器(HMD)开发的互动；HMD评估)，以及Henry ApFelbaum(影响空间多路复用的心理物理限制；支持工程和软件)。来自合作伙伴组织的首席研究员：NOA Rensing、MicroOptics(增强视觉头盔显示器系统的光学、电子学和人体工程学开发；将基于镜子的望远镜嵌入眼镜镜片)，Karen Keeney，Chadwick光学公司(眼镜镜片中安装光学元件的新开发)；Manbir Sodhi，大学。RL(生产高质量的离轴抛物面反射镜；与Rensing博士合作嵌入它们)。他还将生产基于镜子的棱镜设备，基尼将把它安装在镜片中)；肯特·希金斯(Kent Higgins)，NY灯塔(驾驶模拟器研究)；比利时道路安全研究所(Mark Ant)，比利时道路安全研究所(在安特卫普和根特大学的临床帮助下，在比利时进行道路研究)。辛西娅·奥斯利的团队，美国联合航空公司，伯明翰(研究低视力驾驶)。Carel Hoyng，Radboud U Nijmegen，荷兰(植入双焦点人工晶状体)，Verezen先生，Ergra低视力，荷兰(为患者安装双焦点远视系统并进行使用培训)。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): This proposal continues the application of novel engineering approaches to low vision rehabilitation. We are developing prototype devices designed to help people with impairments of central and peripheral vision. The devices, built with the help of engineering partners, are evaluated critically, with the help of clinical partners, in diverse patient populations to determine the effects on function and quality of life. We propose to continue to develop and test optical and electronic devices aimed at restoring the important interplay of central (high- resolution) and peripheral (wide-field) vision. We will continue to explore the utility of the Vision Multiplexing concept for this. Our assessments and testing combine virtual environments for controlled and quantitative testing in the lab, and on-the-street evaluation for real-life determination of the effects and utility of the devices for activities of daily living such as walking, driving, reading and watching television. Cosmetic acceptability and ergonomics are high priorities in designing the devices. We are also developing training methods to ensure effective use of and adaptation to the devices; such training methods should lead to better use of the devices and might help with designing more effective rehabilitation programs. Lead investigators: Russell Woods (Project manager; virtual walking simulator studies; biocular multiplexing), Robert Goldstein (all computational efforts), Alex Bowers (driving studies; real-world walking), Gang Luo (interaction with MicroOptical regarding head mounted display (HMD) development; HMD assessment), and Henry Apfelbaum (psychophysical constraints affecting spatial multiplexing; support engineering & software). Lead investigators from partner organizations: Noa Rensing, MicroOptical (optical, electronic, and ergonomic development of the augmented vision HMD system; embedding the mirror-based telescope into a spectacle lens), Karen Keeney, Chadwick Optical (novel development of ways to mount optical elements in spectacle lenses); Manbir Sodhi, Univ. of Rl (producing high quality off-axis parabolic mirrors; collaborating with Dr. Rensing on embedding them. He will also produce the mirror-based prismatic device, which Ms. Keeney will mount in lenses); Kent Higgins, Lighthouse NY (driving simulator studies); Mark Tant, Belgian Road Safety Institute (on-road studies in Belgium with clinical help from the U. of Antwerp and Gent). Cynthia Owsley's team, U. AL, Birmingham (driving with low visual acuity studies). Carel Hoyng, Radboud U. Nijmegen, Holland (implant bifocal intraocular lenses), Mr. Verezen, Ergra Low Vision, Holland (fit patients with double bifocal teledioptric system and train in use).