Performance of VisuALL virtual reality visual field testing in healthy children

Abstract

Background: Virtual reality field testing may provide an alternative to standard automated perimetry. This study evaluates a virtual reality game-based automated perimetry in a healthy pediatric population.

Methods: A prospective series of pediatric patients at one institution who performed VisuALL perimetry (Olleyes Inc, Summit, NJ) using a game-based algorithm. Participants were examined by an experienced pediatric optometrist or ophthalmologist, who confirmed that there was no evidence of ocular disease expected to affect visual fields. Testing was performed binocularly, with the child wearing their spectacle correction in place. Age, refractive error, test duration, false positives, and stereoacuity were evaluated for associations with performance on VisuALL, as defined by mean deviation (MD) and pattern standard deviation (PSD).

Results: A total of 191 eyes of 97 patients (54% female) were included, with a mean age of 11.9 ± 3.1 years. The average MD was -1.82 ± 3.5 dB, with a mean foveal sensitivity of 32.0 ± 4.7 dB. Fifty-nine eyes (30.9%) had MD < -2 dB. Better performance, as assessed by MD and PSD, was associated with shorter test duration (P < 0.001) and older age (P < 0.001). False positives (P = 0.442), wearing spectacles (P = 0.092), Titmus stereoacuity (P = 0.197), and refractive error (P = 0.120) did not appear to be associated with improved performance, adjusting for age as a covariate.

Conclusions: VisuALL virtual reality field testing was well tolerated in this pediatric study cohort. Older age and shorter test duration were associated with better performance on field testing.