Virtual reality simulation of epiretinal stimulation highlights the relevance of the visual angle in prosthetic vision
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Abstract
Objective. Retinal prostheses hold the potential for artificial vision in blind patients suffering from outer retinal dystrophies. The optimal number, density and coverage of the electrodes that a retinal prosthesis should have to provide adequate artificial vision in daily activities is still an open question and an important design parameter needed to develop better implants. Approach. To address this question, we investigated the interaction between the visual angle, the pixel number and the pixel density without being limited by a small electrode count. We implemented prosthetic vision in a virtual reality environment in order to simulate the real-life experience of using a retinal prosthesis. We designed four different tasks simulating: object recognition, word reading, perception of a descending step and crossing a street. Main results. The results of our study showed that in all the tasks the visual angle played the most significant role in improving the performance of the participant. Significance . The design of new retinal prostheses should take into account the relevance of the restored visual angle to provide a helpful and valuable visual aid to profoundly or totally blind patients.
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Research using simulated prosthetic vision suggests that obtaining a wide field of view (FOV) is important for both mobility and object recognition tasks.
“Research using simulated prosthetic vision suggests that obtaining a wide field of view (FOV) is important for both mobility and object recognition tasks.61–64”
From Visual Prostheses in the Era of Artificial Intelligence Technology (2025) · cites this paper as [64]
The Polyretina team conducted experiments within virtual reality to assess perception under simulated epiretinal prosthetic vision.
“The Polyretina team also conducted experiments within virtual reality to assess perception under simulated epiretinal prosthetic vision.64”
From Visual Prostheses in the Era of Artificial Intelligence Technology (2025) · cites this paper as [64]
Wide artificial vision is crucial for totally blind people to perform everyday visual tasks such as general orientation, safe ambulation, obstacle avoidance and object recognition.
“Wide artificial vision is crucial for totally blind people to perform everyday visual tasks such as general orientation, safe ambulation, obstacle avoidance and object recognition [41].”
From Advances in visual prostheses: engineering and biological challenges (2022) · cites this paper as [41]
For totally blind patients, such as in RP or severe forms of AMD, a much wider visual field would be required to allow the patient to perform everyday tasks.
“For totally blind patients, like in RP or severe forms of AMD, a much wider visual field would be required to allow the patient to perform everyday tasks [41].”
From Advances in visual prostheses: engineering and biological challenges (2022) · cites this paper as [41]
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References 53 · Cited by 34
Research works printed but not linked: 1
- Anon 2014 Chapter 1 -restoring vision to the blind: the new age of implanted visual prostheses Trans. Vis. Sci. Tech. 3 3
- Authors
- Thorn, J. T., Migliorini, E., & Ghezzi, D.
- Affiliations
- École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (CH)
- Corresponding author
- Ghezzi, Diego
- Venue
- Journal of Neural Engineering
- Publisher
- IOP Publishing
- Published
- 2020-10-01
- Volume
- 17
- Issue
- 5
- Pages
- 056019
- ISSN
- 1741-2552 (ISSN-L)
- 1741-2560
- OpenAlex
- W3084255170
- Cited by
- 34
- References
- 53
- Citations by year
- 2026: 1 · 2025: 7 · 2024: 5 · 2023: 5 · 2022: 11 · 2021: 4 · 2020: 1
- FWCI
- 2.41
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- hybrid
- doi.org
- Licence
- Locations
- Journal of Neural Engineering (publishedVersion, cc-by)
- bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory) (acceptedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Infoscience (Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne) (submittedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
- Funders
- Fondation E. Et G. Gelbert (NA)
- Topics
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience › Neuroscience and Neural Engineering
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Tactile and Sensory Interactions
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › EEG and Brain-Computer Interfaces
- Keywords
- retinal prosthesis, epiretinal stimulation, visual angle, pixel density, electrode density, virtual reality simulation, artificial vision, blind patients, object recognition, word reading, retinal dystrophy
- MeSH terms
- Virtual Reality, Computer Simulation, Humans, Vision, Ocular, Visual Perception, Visual Prosthesis
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