Improving Visuo-motor Interactions with Prosthetic Vision Devices: Multisensory Techniques for Training and Rehabilitation

Implantable visual prostheses are an emerging and promising treatment for restoring visual perception in patients with end-stage retinal degenerative diseases. In comparison to the vision experienced by sighted humans, the restored visual perception in patients implanted with these prosthetic vision devices is significantly reduced in quality, providing only a blurry and distorted view with limited resolution, contrast, depth, and field of view available. These perceptual limitations make visuo-motor interactions particularly challenging for patients implanted with prosthetic vision devices, but critical to their activities of daily living. Despite this, only limited attention has been given to this aspect of device design, and rehabilitation in the prosthetic vision context. Addressing this gap, this thesis research considers approaches to improve visuo-motor interactions in the context of retinal prostheses through: (i) design improvements, and (ii) multisensory training approaches. This thesis reports the results of four studies: 1. Study-1: Effect of camera position on egocentric localisation with simulated prosthetic vision. 2. Study-2: Effect of ‘demagnification’ on localisation with simulated prosthetic vision. 3. Study-3: Design of a conceptual framework for design and evaluation of multisensory interventions for prosthetic vision rehabilitation. 4. Study-4: Design and experimental evaluation of VibroSleeve - a wearable multisensory training tool for localisation training.