Project Aim
This project aimed to develop and validate a virtual reality (VR) mobility task as a surrogate outcome measure to assess functional vision in achromatopsia, and to evaluate the MonCvOne® device as an objective tool for measuring light sensitivity.
Project Summary
Participants wore a VR headset and used hand joysticks (as pictured below) to walk through a virtual room. The VR environment was looking to imitate the MLMT and the VR task involved navigating a simulated environment with obstacles and changing light conditions, designed to emulate real-world challenges faced by individuals with these conditions and the MLMT.
Key Findings
- The VR mobility task was well tolerated across age groups and skill levels, with minimal motion sickness and high usability.
- Patients with achromatopsia demonstrated significantly poorer performance in VR navigation than age-matched individuals with normal vision, especially in high-light settings.
- The MonCvOne® – a medical device designed to provide a comprehensive, objective, and quantitative assessment of vision – provided unbiased, consistent measures of photosensitivity.
Research Impact and Significance
This study demonstrated that VR-based mobility testing provides a scalable and patient-friendly approach to assessing real-world visual performance in individuals with achromatopsia. It also showed strong potential as a surrogate endpoint in future clinical trials of novel therapies. Additionally, the MonCvOne® system proved to be a reliable and repeatable measure of light sensitivity. As a standardised and effective outcome measure, this VR tool offers a practical solution for global clinical trial implementation, requiring minimal clinical infrastructure while ensuring high reproducibility across sites.
Chief investigator:
Dr Elisa Cornish
Save Sight Institute, Sydney
Co-investigator/s:
Professor Gregg Suaning, School of Biomedical Engineering, The University of Sydney
Professor John Grigg, Save Sight Institute, Sydney
Grant awarded:
$52,639 (2024)
Timing:
1 Year 2024
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