Virtual reality headsets ‘transformative’ for visual field testing
Key takeaways:
- Virtual reality headsets are portable and easy to use and have reasonable pricing.
- These headsets are complementary to conventional testing.
ORLANDO — Virtual reality headsets for visual field testing in glaucoma offer a variety of benefits for the patient, the practice and the ophthalmologist, according to a speaker.
“The quality of these new software programs is phenomenal,” Jason Bacharach, MD, said at Telling It Like It Is. “They are engaging when the patient is in them, they are immersive, and they are super comfortable.”
Compared with conventional bowl-based perimetry, virtual reality (VR) headsets for visual field testing allow practices to perform a higher volume of tests while requiring fewer skills to use properly. There are also benefits from a financial standpoint, as the devices allow for more tests per unit of time and often have reasonable price points, according to Bacharach.
“From a portability standpoint, you can move these units from room to room, space to space, office to office,” he said.
Bacharach overviewed common concerns facing VR visual field testing, including small databases and a lack of standardized validation studies, as well as questions about workflow and electronic medical record integration along with the stability of the device manufacturers.
“But the impetus is tremendous to use these [devices],” he said.
He highlighted the “lack of providership relative to demand,” the aging population of glaucoma patients and the limitations in current bowl-based technology.
“How many of us are really running six visual field tests over the first 2 years of diagnosis? It’s just not happening,” Bacharach said. “The limitations of our current technology are tremendous.”
By eliminating the physical constraints of traditional in-office testing, VR enables providers to remotely monitor patients, which can benefit underserved communities. A VR headset offers more comfort for patients with conditions such as arthritis, while children can be tested using pattern recognition software.
While VR headsets may not be a complete replacement for conventional perimetry testing and price points may vary, they are “truly transformative” for visual field testing, according to Bacharach.
“If you’re not doing it, you will be,” he said. “It’s changing decades-old methodology of our functional testing.”
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Bacharach J. How to incorporate headset visual fields into a busy practice. Presented at: Telling It Like It Is; Feb. 13-16, 2025; Orlando, Florida.
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