Vision Rehabilitation Training With Multimodal Feedback in Central Vision Loss

Recruiting now · Not applicable

Conditions studied: Low Vision, Central Visual Impairment, Macular Degeneration

In brief

Central vision loss from macular degeneration creates blind spots that impair reading, face recognition, and navigation. Individuals must learn to use peripheral vision, requiring retraining of eye movements. Our preliminary research using high-speed eye tracking demonstrated that people with larger scotomas have impaired eye movement control, and that single-session visual feedback training showed limited immediate benefit, though combining feedback types showed promise. This study will evaluate whether extended binocular training (5 weekly sessions) with multimodal feedback improves eye movement control in 8-15 participants with bilateral central vision loss. Unlike conventional monocular rehabilitation systems, our approach trains both eyes simultaneously using real-time visual and auditory feedback during saccadic and smooth pursuit tasks. Participants will receive gaze-contingent scotoma awareness feedback, preferred retinal locus feedback, and auditory cues while performing eye tracking exercises. Primary outcomes include saccadic accuracy (latency, landing error, amplitude) and smooth pursuit parameters (gain, tracking accuracy). Secondary outcomes include contrast sensitivity and self-reported visual function. Success could establish an evidence base for accessible home-based training using virtual reality technology, potentially benefiting millions with macular degeneration.

Key facts

Study ID: NCT07577219
Run by: New England College of Optometry
People needed: 12
Starts: 2026-01-31
Expected to finish: 2026-12-01
Last updated by the study team: 2026-05-11

Who can join

Age: 14 and older. Sex: any. Healthy volunteers: not accepted.

You may qualify if…

Bilateral central scotomas confirmed via computerized tangent screen Visual acuity between 20/60 and 20/200 (0.5 - 1.00 logMAR) in either eye Stable central vision loss (no change in visual acuity >0.2 logMAR in past 6 months) Age 14 years or older, with diagnosis of macular disease Normal cognitive function (Mini-Mental State Examination score ≥24) Ability to provide informed consent and complete study visits No major hearing loss Fluent in English

You may not qualify if…

Unstable ocular disease (e.g., ongoing treatments and/or injections) Peripheral vision loss of less than 40 degrees Conditions affecting oculomotor control independent of CVL

Where it is running

New England College of Optometry — Boston, Massachusetts, United States (enrolling)

Full record on ClinicalTrials.gov

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