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Review
. 2021 May-Jun;10(3):244-252.
doi: 10.1097/APO.0000000000000409.

Virtual Reality and Augmented Reality in Ophthalmology: A Contemporary Prospective

Mina Iskander  1 , Titilola Ogunsola  1 , Rithambara Ramachandran  1 , Richard McGowan  2 , Lama A Al-Aswad  1   3
Affiliations
Review

Virtual Reality and Augmented Reality in Ophthalmology: A Contemporary Prospective

Mina Iskander et al. Asia Pac J Ophthalmol (Phila). 2021 May-Jun.

Abstract

Purpose: Most published systematic reviews have focused on the use of virtual reality (VR)/augmented reality (AR) technology in ophthalmology as it relates to surgical training. To date, this is the first review that investigates the current state of VR/AR technology applied more broadly to the entire field of ophthalmology.

Methods: PubMed, Embase, and CINAHL databases were searched systematically from January 2014 through December 1, 2020. Studies that discussed VR and/or AR as it relates to the field of ophthalmology and provided information on the technology used were considered. Abstracts, non-peer-reviewed literature, review articles, studies that reported only qualitative data, and studies without English translations were excluded.

Results: A total of 77 studies were included in this review. Of these, 28 evaluated the use of VR/AR in ophthalmic surgical training/assessment and guidance, 7 in clinical training, 23 in diagnosis/screening, and 19 in treatment/therapy. 15 studies used AR, 61 used VR, and 1 used both. Most studies focused on the validity and usability of novel technologies.

Conclusions: Ophthalmology is a field of medicine that is well suited for the use of VR/AR. However, further longitudinal studies examining the practical feasibility, efficacy, and safety of such novel technologies, the cost-effectiveness, and medical/legal considerations are still needed. We believe that time will indeed foster further technological advances and lead to widespread use of VR/AR in routine ophthalmic practice.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors have no conflicts of interest to declare.

Figures

FIGURE 1.
FIGURE 1.
This continuum displays the relationship between a completely real environment on one end, and a completely virtual one (VR) on the other. Mixed reality is the space in between the 2 extremes.
FIGURE 2.
FIGURE 2.
Search Strategy.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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