Visual Search in People with Macular Degeneration: A Virtual Reality Eye-Tracking Study

This study is the first to explore the usability of a commercial off the shelf (COTS) VR headset for people with macular degeneration (MD) in the context of visual search. Fourteen participants were recruited; 9 fully sighted and 5 with sight loss due to MD. Firstly, a visual grid search task was presented where participants were asked to identify and discriminate virtual objects and shapes. Secondly, affective audio-visual videos were presented in VR to assess participants processing of affective information. The experimental procedure involved both a physical visual acuity Snellen test and a VR Snellen test conducted within a custom virtual environment. Most participants with macular degeneration (MD) reported increased visibility in VR. They were able to discriminate positive affective content and detect objects and shapes appearing at various locations across their entire field of view. Overall performance was linked to the level of visual impairment and whether it affected one or both eyes. Importantly, all participants successfully used the off-the-shelf VR headset. These findings provide preliminary insights into the usability of VR technologies for users with MD.