A virtual reality visual field perimetry test: Proof of concept
Research type
Research Study
Full title
A virtual reality visual field perimetry test: Proof of concept
IRAS ID
320670
Contact name
David Randall
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Clinicaltrials.gov Identifier
N/A, N/A
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 6 months, 31 days
Research summary
Glaucoma is the biggest worldwide cause of irreversible blindness.[1] A principal test for glaucoma is visual field perimetry which determines the functional light sensitivity across the retina and can be used to track changes/degradation over time. Existing perimetry equipment is expensive, immovable and is prone to error. We have designed a new perimetry test using virtual reality (VR) technology. This study aims to test and compare VR technology against existing equipment.
The study team will recruit 20 healthy volunteers and 10 patients with known visual defects. The healthy volunteers will be primarily recruited from hospital staff. Volunteers will have two perimetry tests on the same eye using existing equipment and VR. The patients will be recruited through the Eye Clinic at The Royal Hallamshire Hospital. Each patient will undertake single test on each eye on both devices. A short questionnaire will also be filled in by each participant to assess initial impressions of the VR technology.
The principal outcome from the study is to determine whether VR has the potential to deliver diagnostic information. This will mostly be determined from data collected from the patient arm of the study. The healthy volunteer study will provide data to compare VR to existing equipment. This will include comparisons in test time, variability in results and patient/participant comfort. As this is a prototype, the results will clarify any issues with the VR system and where any further development should be focused.
REC name
West of Scotland REC 1
REC reference
23/WS/0105
Date of REC Opinion
14 Aug 2023
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion