Image Transformation Seeing Aid for Macular Degeneration Patients. Phase 1. Final Report

摘要

A phase I study was performed for a test rig use on a patient with macular degeneration. The experiment was aimed at investigating the ability of the brain to adapt to a certain transformation of the retinal image to divert the light away from the degenerative area to the functional peripheral part of the retina. To accomplish this, a volunteer patient must wear a test rig during working hours over a period of several weeks or months. In order that it is possible for the brain to adapt to the image transformation, the latter must be fixed with respect to the retina. The rig must also include an accurate eye tracker which compensates quickly for eye rotations, and should provide a wide field of view so that the patient will benefit by having a large portion of the functioning peripheral vision put to use. A preliminary test version evolved which satisfies those requirements and is detailed in the report.