PaleBlue announces the development of a Virtual Reality-based solution aimed at testing human vision and possibly training impaired vision cases for achieving improvement. This development is aimed at creating a new opportunity within ophthalmology and healthcare, designing new, lightweight, and accessible ways of helping patients with different kinds of vision irregularities and deficiencies.

PaleBlue partners with Stein Førde, a chief physician at Oslo University Hospital Rikshospitalet, and Professor Emeritus Per Alf Brodal, a renowned Norwegian professor in Neurobiology at the University of Oslo.

Hemianopsia is the condition that is manifested in full or partial vision loss in the peripheral vision area. Hemianopsia is commonly caused by a stroke, brain tumor, or trauma. The developed solution is used to assess the possibility of testing Hemianopsia cases and trying to improve the vision of patients with the condition.

Neuroplasticity, also known as neural plasticity, is the ability of neurons (nerve cells) in the brain to change through growth and reorganization. It is the basis for all learning, including regaining this function after a stroke. We, therefore, wanted to use VR technology to offer patients with loss of lateral vision the opportunity for targeted training. While PaleBlue was responsible for the technological development, chief physician Stein Førde and myself, were responsible for the medical-related aspects. Per Alf Brodal, Professor Emeritus in Neurobiology at the University of Oslo

While traditional ophthalmology equipment is hardware-based, occupies a lot of room, and costs a lot to procure, PaleBlue’s development is meant to be compact and lightweight, thanks to the software approach – as the whole solution is enclosed in an off-the-shelf VR headset.

The solution runs on a standalone VR headset featuring a built-in eye-gaze tracking technology. This means that the solution can run without a PC, and can be used by health professionals with their patients, or by patients themselves at any convenient time. 

The peripheral vision VR solution features a dot-based pattern, placed in the vision field. By introducing stimuli within the field, the system can measure the vision field of the patient, while tracking the gaze direction of the eyes, using the eye-tracking technology built into the VR headset. Using the system continuously and introducing the variable light stimuli in the affected vision areas, the patients’ brains can start to improve detection of the visuals in the affected areas, and thus improve the vision. The testing results are stored and the progress over time can be tracked easily.

The healthcare specialists in this area lack effective tools to treat the deficiencies of peripheral vision.  We have embarked on a journey to change that, and in case we succeed, the impact can be colossal. Egil Thomas Andersen, Account Director at PaleBlue

About PaleBlue
PaleBlue is the leading provider of immersive technologies and training solutions. The company’s focus is on achieving excellence by delivering value-driven solutions enabled with AR and VR technology. PaleBlue 3D simulators are built for the real world and help businesses worldwide better prepare for real-life situations and emergencies.