Blind people can actively manipulate virtual objects with a novel tactile device.

Frequently in rehabilitation, visually impaired persons are passive agents of exercises with fixed environmental constraints. In fact, a printed tactile map, i.e. a particular picture with a specific spatial arrangement, can usually not be edited. Interaction with map content, instead, facilitates the learning of spatial skills because it exploits mental imagery, manipulation and strategic planning simultaneously. However, it has rarely been applied to maps, mainly because of technological limitations. This study aims to understand if visually impaired people can autonomously build objects that are completely virtual. Specifically, we investigated if a group of twelve blind persons, with a wide age range, could exploit mental imagery to interact with virtual content and actively manipulate it by means of a haptic device. The device is mouse-shaped and designed to jointly perceive, with one finger only, local tactile height and inclination cues of arbitrary scalar fields. Spatial information can be mentally constructed by integrating local tactile cues, given by the device, with global proprioceptive cues, given by hand and arm motion. The experiment consisted of a bi-manual task, in which one hand explored some basic virtual objects and the other hand acted on a keyboard to change the position of one object in real-time. The goal was to merge basic objects into more complex objects, like a puzzle. The experiment spanned different resolutions of the tactile information. We measured task accuracy, efficiency, usability and execution time. The average accuracy in solving the puzzle was 90.5%. Importantly, accuracy was linearly predicted by efficiency, measured as the number of moves needed to solve the task. Subjective parameters linked to usability and spatial resolutions did not predict accuracy; gender modulated the execution time, with men being faster than women. Overall, we show that building purely virtual tactile objects is possible in absence of vision and that the process is measurable and achievable in partial autonomy. Introducing virtual tactile graphics in rehabilitation protocols could facilitate the stimulation of mental imagery, a basic element for the ability to orient in space. The behavioural variable introduced in the current study can be calculated after each trial and therefore could be used to automatically measure and tailor protocols to specific user needs. In perspective, our experimental setup can inspire remote rehabilitation scenarios for visually impaired people.

Rehabilitation of the Severely Visually Impaired and the Blind in a Developing Country.

Blind individuals whether from birth or after being sighted for different periods of their lives constitute about 1% of the Nigerian population. These are individuals who can meaningfully contribute to the growth and development of society if properly guided. However, the traditional way of thinking within the society they find themselves in contributes to their lack of productivity. From birth to adulthood, they need to be guided and consciously prepared for independence. This is not yet widely obtainable in Nigerian society and other developing societies and generally may result in rejection, neglect, and high mortality rates in those affected with the majority unemployed sometimes for up to 10-15 years. It is imperative to offer comprehensive rehabilitation services that can assist this group of individuals to assert/reassert control and independence by designing a program tailored to meet their individual needs (not forgetting those who become blind as adults). A regional center, The Lens Rehabilitation center for the blind and severely visually impaired (TLEC ReHab Nig) located in Port Harcourt, Nigeria has put together a comprehensive program to ensure all round preparedness for independent, productive and fruitful living for persons living with blindness in line with best practices. This is an initial report on the outcome.

Les aveugles, qu'ils soient nés ou qu'ils aient été voyants pendant différentes périodes de leur vie, constituent environ 1% de la population nigériane. Ce sont des personnes qui peuvent contribuer de manière significative à la croissance et au développement de la société si elles sont correctement guidées. Cependant, le mode de pensée traditionnel au sein de la société dans laquelle ils se trouvent assure en grande partie leur manque de productivité. De la naissance à l'âge adulte, ils doivent être traités et préparés consciemment à l'indépendance. Cela n'est pas encore possible dans la société nigériane et dans d'autres sociétés en développement et en général, cela peut entraîner le rejet, la négligence et des taux de mortalité élevés chez les personnes touchées, la majorité d'entre elles restant à la maison jusqu'à 10 ou 15 ans sans rien faire. Il est impératif d'offrir des services de réadaptation complets qui peuvent aider ce groupe d'individus à s'affirmer/réaffirmer leur contrôle et leur indépendance en concevant un programme adapté à leurs besoins individuels. leurs besoins individuels. Un centre régional, The Lens Rehabilitation center for the blind and severely visually impaired (TLEC ReHab Nig), situé à Port Harcourt, au Nigeria, a mis en place un programme complet visant à préparer les personnes atteintes de cécité à une vie indépendante, productive et fructueuse, conformément aux meilleures pratiques. Il s'agit d'un premier rapport sur les résultats obtenus. Mots clés: Aveugle, Éducation inclusive, Réhabilitation visuelle, Réhabilitation TLEC, Nigeria.

Avaliação da qualidade de vida relacionada à saúde em um programa de reabilitação para pessoas com deficiência visual / Health-related quality of life assessment in a rehabilitation program for people with visual impairment

RESUMO Objetivo: Aplicar um protocolo para avaliar a qualidade de vida relacionada à saúde de participantes de um programa de reabilitação para pessoas com deficiência visual de um instituto de referência. Métodos: Foi realizado um estudo transversal com 60 adultos com deficiência visual participantes de um programa de reabilitação para pessoas com deficiência visual de um instituto de referência no Rio de Janeiro. O protocolo de pesquisa consistiu em um questionário com dados pessoais, sociais, demográficos e informações clínicas; no European Quality of Life 5 Dimensions 3 Level Version para medição genérica de qualidade de vida relacionada à saúde; no Patient Health Questionnaire-2 para rastrear a depressão e no Visual Function Questionnaire 25 para avaliar a qualidade de vida relacionada à saúde específica da função visual. A principal variável independente analisada foi o tempo de exposição ao programa. Modelos de regressão linear foram utilizados para investigar a relação entre o tempo no programa e a qualidade de vida relacionada à saúde do Visual Function Questionnaire 25 e do European Quality of Life 5 Dimensions 3 Level Version. Resultados: A maioria dos participantes (73%) possuía deficiência visual adquirida; 68% tinham menos de 60 anos e 53% perderam a visão há mais de 10 anos. A condição visual autorreferida mais comum foi cegueira em ambos os olhos (48%) e 42% frequentavam o programa há mais de 3 anos. A mediana do índice de utilidade do European Quality of Life 5 Dimensions 3 Level Version foi de 0,75. O instrumento específico para rastreamento de depressão, o Patient Health Questionnaire, identificou proporção de 27% de participantes positivos. O Visual Function Questionnaire 25 apresentou escores abaixo de 50 (escala de zero a cem) nos subdomínios visão geral, atividades de perto e atividades à distância. As medianas de dor ocular e aspectos sociais do Visual Function Questionnaire 25 foram significativamente menores entre aqueles que realizavam tratamento psiquiátrico. O tempo de reabilitação foi independentemente associado a melhores escores dos subdomínios saúde mental e atividades da vida diária. Conclusão: O protocolo demonstrou aplicabilidade para a avaliação de qualidade de vida relacionada à saúde em pessoas com deficiência visual, permitindo concluir que o maior tempo no programa de reabilitação foi associado a maiores escores de qualidade de vida.

ABSTRACT Purpose: This study aimed to implement a health-related quality of life (HRQoL) assessment protocol to measure the consequences of a rehabilitation program for visual impaired people at a leading reference institute in Brazil. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted with 60 visual impaired adults enrolled in a Rehabilitation Program of the Instituto Benjamin Constant. The research protocol consisted of a questionnaire with personal data, social, demographic, and clinical information; the EQ-5D-3L instrument for generic HRQoL measurement; the Patient Health Questionnaire-2 (PHQ- 2) to screen for depression, and the 25-Item National Eye Institute Visual Function Questionnaire (NEI VFQ-25) to assess specific HRQoL of visual function. The main independent variable analyzed was the exposure time to the rehabilitation. Linear regression models were used to investigate the relationship between rehabilitation time and HRQoL of the NEI VFQ-25 and EQ 5D-3L instruments. Results: Most participants (73%) have acquired visual impairment, 68% are under 60 years old, 53% lost their vision more than 10 years ago, the most common self-reported visual condition (48%) was blindness in both eyes and 42% are in the Rehabilitation Program for more than 3 years. The median HRQoL utility index for EQ 5D-3L was 0.75. The specific instrument for screening for depression, PHQ-2, identified 27% of participants above the cut-off point. The NEI VFQ-25 instrument showed scores below 50 (scale from 0 to 100) in subdomains: "general vision", "near activities" and "distance activities". The medians of "ocular pain" and "social aspects" of the VFQ-25 were significantly lower among those who have undergone psychiatric treatment. "Rehabilitation time" was independently associated with better scores of "mental health" and "role difficulties" subdomains. Conclusion: The protocol showed applicability for the assessment of HRQoL, allowing the conclusion that longer time in the rehabilitation program was associated with higher quality of life scores.

The application of computer vision to visual prosthesis.

A visual prosthesis is an auxiliary device for patients with blinding diseases that cannot be treated with conventional surgery or drugs. It converts captured images into corresponding electrical stimulation patterns, according to which phosphenes are generated through the action of internal electrodes on the visual pathway to form visual perception. However, due to some restrictions such as the few implantable electrodes that the biological tissue can accommodate, the induced perception is far from ideal. Therefore, an important issue in visual prosthesis research is how to detect and present useful information in low-resolution prosthetic vision to improve the visual function of the wearer. In recent years, with the development and broad application of computer vision methods, researchers have investigated the possibility of their utilization in visual prostheses by simulating prosthetic visual percepts. Through the optimization of visual perception by image processing, the efficiency of visual prosthesis devices can be further improved to better meet the needs of prosthesis wearers. In this article, recent works on prosthetic vision centering on implementing computer vision methods are reviewed. Differences, strengths, and weaknesses of the mentioned methods are discussed. The development directions of optimizing prosthetic vision and improving methods of visual perception are analyzed.

A self-training program for sensory substitution devices.

Sensory Substitution Devices (SSDs) convey visual information through audition or touch, targeting blind and visually impaired individuals. One bottleneck towards adopting SSDs in everyday life by blind users, is the constant dependency on sighted instructors throughout the learning process. Here, we present a proof-of-concept for the efficacy of an online self-training program developed for learning the basics of the EyeMusic visual-to-auditory SSD tested on sighted blindfolded participants. Additionally, aiming to identify the best training strategy to be later re-adapted for the blind, we compared multisensory vs. unisensory as well as perceptual vs. descriptive feedback approaches. To these aims, sighted participants performed identical SSD-stimuli identification tests before and after ~75 minutes of self-training on the EyeMusic algorithm. Participants were divided into five groups, differing by the feedback delivered during training: auditory-descriptive, audio-visual textual description, audio-visual perceptual simultaneous and interleaved, and a control group which had no training. At baseline, before any EyeMusic training, participants SSD objects' identification was significantly above chance, highlighting the algorithm's intuitiveness. Furthermore, self-training led to a significant improvement in accuracy between pre- and post-training tests in each of the four feedback groups versus control, though no significant difference emerged among those groups. Nonetheless, significant correlations between individual post-training success rates and various learning measures acquired during training, suggest a trend for an advantage of multisensory vs. unisensory feedback strategies, while no trend emerged for perceptual vs. descriptive strategies. The success at baseline strengthens the conclusion that cross-modal correspondences facilitate learning, given SSD algorithms are based on such correspondences. Additionally, and crucially, the results highlight the feasibility of self-training for the first stages of SSD learning, and suggest that for these initial stages, unisensory training, easily implemented also for blind and visually impaired individuals, may suffice. Together, these findings will potentially boost the use of SSDs for rehabilitation.

Assessing optimal colour and illumination to facilitate reading.

PURPOSE: This study examined the effectiveness of the LuxIQ, the Apple iPad and a smart bulb in assessing optimal colour and illumination to facilitate reading in younger, older and visually impaired adults. METHODS: Participants read standardised texts at baseline (normal lighting/no device), then using the Apple iPad, LuxIQ and smart bulb, with their normal vision (20/20 condition) and using a simulated reduction in visual acuity/contrast sensitivity (20/80 condition). Visually impaired participants followed the same procedure used in the 20/80 condition. RESULTS: There was a significant interaction between condition and device in younger, F(1.5, 43.51) = 30.41, p < 0.001, ω2  = 0.34 and older, F(1.5, 4.51) = 4.51, p = 0.03, ω2  = 0.05 adults with normal vision, and there was a significant effect of device, F(2, 58) = 5.95, p = 0.004, ω2  = 0.12 in visually impaired adults. In the 20/20 condition, age and colour predicted reading speed, F(3, 176) = 36.25, p < 0.001, Adj. R2  = 0.37, whereas age, lighting and colour predicted reading speed, F(3, 176) = 36.25, p < 0.001, Adj. R2  = 0.37 in the 20/80 condition. In the visual impairment condition, lighting, colour and impairment severity predicted reading speed, F(3, 85) = 10.10, p < 0.001, Adj. R2  = 0.24. CONCLUSIONS: The clinical implications of this study are that reading speeds improve in individuals with low vision under improved lighting conditions, specifically, with higher levels of luminance and colour temperature. The effectiveness of the devices varied across groups; however, the LuxIQ was the only device to improve reading speeds from baseline in older adults with visual impairments.

Design considerations for the ideal low vision aid: insights from de-brief interviews following a real-world recording study.

PURPOSE: Low Vision Aids (LVAs) can have a transformative impact on people living with sight loss, yet the everyday requirements for developing such devices remain poorly understood and defined. This study systematically explored LVA requirements through a structured de-brief interview following a real-world self-recording study. The purpose of this work was to define the actual needs of those living with sight loss so that low vision services can better address them in future. METHODS: Thirty-two visually impaired volunteers with varying levels of previous LVA experience participated in a de-brief interview centred around a structured questionnaire. The de-brief followed a one-week real-world study during which participants used recoding spectacles to capture and narrate all situations in which they would use a 'perfect sight aid'. Content and thematic analyses were used to analyse interviews which had the purpose of contextualising these recordings and exploring requirements around psychological, functional and design factors. RESULTS: Participants reported that 46% of tasks which they had recorded were most important to them. Of these tasks, 82% were encountered frequently. Few tasks emerged as very important across many participants, the remaining tasks reflecting individual lifestyles or circumstances. Every participant used at least one LVA in their everyday life and 72% identified further coping strategies. Current LVAs identified as consistently poor were distance LVAs, with all other devices receiving mixed or only positive feedback. Around two-thirds of participants would prefer LVA use on an ad-hoc / quick access basis rather than over long periods of time, and just over half would prefer to carry it rather than wearing it all day. Lack of consistency in these responses illustrated potentially different user clusters with divergent design needs. Two-thirds of participants emphasised the desire for a discreet LVA that does not attract attention. However, since half of all participants felt self-conscious in public or in front of other people when wearing the small recording spectacles, this may not be technically achievable. CONCLUSIONS: There is a substantial opportunity for new LVAs to address visual needs that traditional devices and coping strategies cannot support. Functional, psychological and design factors require careful consideration for future LVAs to be relevant and widely adopted.

Efficacy of Visual Retraining in the Hemianopic Field after Stroke: Results of a Randomized Clinical Trial.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the efficacy of motion discrimination training as a potential therapy for stroke-induced hemianopic visual field defects. DESIGN: Clinical trial. PARTICIPANTS: Forty-eight patients with stroke-induced homonymous hemianopia (HH) were randomized into 2 training arms: intervention and control. Patients were between 21 and 75 years of age and showed no ocular issues at presentation. METHODS: Patients were trained on a motion discrimination task previously evidenced to reduce visual field deficits, but not in a randomized clinical trial. Patients were randomized with equal allocation to receive training in either their sighted or deficit visual fields. Training was performed at home for 6 months, consisting of repeated visual discriminations at a single location for 20 to 30 minutes daily. Study staff and patients were masked to training type. Testing before and after training was identical, consisting of Humphrey visual fields (Carl Zeiss Meditech), macular integrity assessment perimetry, OCT, motion discrimination performance, and visual quality-of-life questionnaires. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Primary outcome measures were changes in perimetric mean deviation (PMD) on Humphrey Visual Field Analyzer in both eyes. RESULTS: Mean PMDs improved over 6 months in deficit-trained patients (mean change in the right eye, 0.58 dB; 95% confidence interval, 0.07-1.08 dB; mean change in the left eye 0.84 dB; 95% confidence interval, 0.22-1.47 dB). No improvement was observed in sighted-trained patients (mean change in the right eye, 0.12 dB; 95% confidence interval, -0.38 to 0.62 dB; mean change in the left eye, 0.10 dB; 95% confidence interval, -0.52 to 0.72 dB). However, no significant differences were found between the alternative training methods (right eye, P = 0.19; left eye, P = 0.10). CONCLUSIONS: To date, no widely accepted therapy is available to treat HH. This study evaluated the efficacy of a promising potential treatment, visual perceptual training. We failed to find a difference between treatment training within the deficit field and control training within the sighted field when performed in a home environment.

The road to restore vision with photoreceptor regeneration.

Neuroretinal diseases are the predominant cause of irreversible blindness worldwide, mainly due to photoreceptor loss. Currently, there are no radical treatments to fully reverse the degeneration or even stop the disease progression. Thus, it is urgent to develop new biological therapeutics for these diseases on the clinical side. Stem cell-based treatments have become a promising therapeutic for neuroretinal diseases through the replacement of damaged cells with photoreceptors and some allied cells. To date, considerable efforts have been made to regenerate the diseased retina based on stem cell technology. In this review, we overview the current status of stem cell-based treatments for photoreceptor regeneration, including the major cell sources derived from different stem cells in pre-clinical or clinical trial stages. Additionally, we discuss herein the major challenges ahead for and potential new strategy toward photoreceptor regeneration.

Object detection and recognition: using deep learning to assist the visually impaired.

BACKGROUND: Deep learning systems have improved performance of devices through more accurate object detection in a significant number of areas, for medical aid in general, and also for navigational aids for the visually impaired. Systems addressing different needs are available, and many manage effectively the detection of static obstacles. PURPOSE: This research provides a review of deep learning systems used with navigational tools for the visually Impaired and a framework for guidance for future research. METHODS: We compare current deep learning systems used with navigational tools for the visually impaired and compile a taxonomy of indispensable features for systems. RESULTS: Challenges to detection. Our taxonomy of improved navigational systems shows that it is sufficiently robust to be generally applied. CONCLUSION: This critical analysis is, to the best of our knowledge, the first of its kind and will provide a much-needed overview of the field.Implication for RehabilitationDeep learning systems can provide lost cost solutions for the visually impaired.Of these, convolutional neural networks (CNN) and fully convolutional neural networks (FCN) show great promise in terms of the development of multifunctional technology for the visually impaired (i.e., being less specific task oriented).CNN have also potential for overcoming challenges caused by moving and occluded objects.This work has also highlighted a need for greater emphasis on feedback to the visually impaired which for many technologies is limited.

Indications and prognosis for keratoplasty in eyes with severe visual impairment and blindness due to corneal disease in India.

PURPOSE: To describe the indications and prognosis for keratoplasty in eyes with severe visual impairment and blindness due to corneal diseases in India. METHODS: This hospital-based cross-sectional study included 1 057 215 new patients presenting to a multitier ophthalmology network from 2016 to 2018. All patients with a central corneal pathology and best corrected visual acuity of less than 20/200 in the affected eye(s) were identified as cases and grouped according to laterality. The main outcome measure was the prognosis for keratoplasty, based on the surgical indication. RESULTS: A total of 28 824 (2.73%) patients were identified with severe visual impairment or blindness due to corneal diseases; of which, 22 582 (78.3%) had unilateral and 6242 (21.7%) had bilateral affliction. Overall, 85% of the corneal pathologies were due to avoidable causes, which accounted for 97% and 63% of the unilateral and bilateral cases, respectively (p<0.0001). The most common aetiologies were microbial keratitis (27.2%) and corneal opacification (25.5%) in unilateral cases; and corneal opacification (38.2%) and ectasias (14.5%) in bilateral cases. Overall, 60.1% of affected eyes carried a fair to poor prognosis for keratoplasty. However, while in unilateral cases only 29.9% of eyes carried good to excellent prognosis for keratoplasty, in bilateral cases, 58% of eyes carried good to excellent prognosis for keratoplasty (p<0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: The indications and prognosis for keratoplasty varied greatly based on whether the affliction was unilateral or bilateral. Most of the eyes affected by corneal visual impairment or blindness, however, carried an unfavourable prognosis for keratoplasty.

Distance support and online intervention to blind and visually impaired children during the pandemic COVID-19.

The COVID-19 pandemic imposed dramatic changes to everyone's daily routines, but especially to children with developmental disabilities. The Robert Hollman Foundation decided not to interrupt its service to all the visually impaired children and initiated a Distance Support Project. It was an online process covering all aspects of support for the children and involving audio-video calls, videos and tailored-made multisensory material created specifically for each child. A questionnaire, carried out after the 5-month project duration, was created to collect feedback from parents and professionals to understand the impact this project had on everyone involved. Overall both parents and professionals indicated high levels of satisfaction, but in a significant number of questions parents reported consistently higher levels of satisfaction (p-value <0.001). It was shown that parents felt reassured at this otherwise very difficult time because their children were able to continue their treatment, even if in a very different way. This fact encourages us to consider enriching our existing programmes of support and care, integrating this online approach when necessary. At the same time, it seems clear that the responses of the professionals indicate their belief that the benefits of the traditional ways of working remain of unquestionable importance for children with sight deprivation.

Clinical guidelines for the management of keratoconus patients with gas permeable contact lenses based on expert consensus and available evidence.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Fitting rigid gas permeable contact lenses (RGP CLs) in keratoconic patients is the most common visual rehabilitation option to improve patients' quality of life, but require long patient and practitioner chair time. The purpose of this review is to provide evidence-based clinical practice guidelines (CPG) in the management of patients with keratoconus with RGP CLs. RECENT FINDINGS: An extensive literature review from 1990 to 2017 identified 354 potentially relevant publications. Fifty-two articles were reviewed and included in the CPG. An international expert panel of eight contact lens practitioners, with vast experience in keratoconus management reviewed and appraised the CPG following the Appraisal of Guidelines for Research and Evaluation II consortium requirements. The developed CPG clearly outlines a strategy for the successful fitting of RGP CLs in patients with keratoconus. This includes how to calculate parameters of the first diagnostic lens, criteria for assessing good fit and a standardized schedule of wear time and follow-up appointments. SUMMARY: The current evidence and consensus-based CPG helps guide clinicians in a successful strategy for fitting RGP CLs in patients with keratoconus.

Reinvenções na vida de pessoas com deficiência visual: caminhos à reabilitação inclusiva? / Reinventions in the lives of visually impaired people: paths to inclusive rehabilitation?

Fruto dos avanços na conquista de direitos das pessoas com deficiência ao longo dos primeiros anos do século XXI, tem-se observado maior participação de pessoas com os diversos tipos de deficiência nos variados setores da sociedade, todavia esse avanço não foi observado com a mesma proporção no subgrupo da deficiência visual. Um caminho utilizado por tais sujeitos para se alcançar novos patamares de vida é a reabilitação. Supondo que os espaços e as práticas de reabilitação possibilitam a reinvenção de vida frente à perda de visão, no presente estudo objetivamos analisar as reinvenções de vida da pessoa com deficiência visual ao longo do percurso reabilitacional. Nessa trajetória, tece-se um diálogo com os aprofundamentos sobre interdependência partir dos aportes teórico-conceituais desenvolvidos por Elias (1994), Kittay (2011) e Butler (2015). Metodologicamente, empreendemos uma pesquisa exploratória com abordagem qualitativa, apoiada na dialética e na reflexividade, visando potencializar diferentes saberes. Os sujeitos colaboradores desta pesquisa foram quinze pessoas com idade acima de dezoito anos, cegas ou com baixa visão, que passaram ou estão passando por serviços de reabilitação visual e integrantes de um grupo de extensão universitária voltado para pessoas com deficiência, bem como uma informante-chave vinculada à gestão da rede de atenção à saúde da pessoa com deficiência do estado do Rio Grande do Norte (SESAP) e também um integrante do corpo diretivo do Instituto de Educação e Reabilitação de Cegos do Rio Grande do Norte (IERC). Para a captação dos dados empíricos, realizamos três sessões de grupos focais heterogêneos e ocorridos entre os meses de setembro e outubro de 2019 e duas entrevistas semiestruturadas com os gestores no mesmo período. Posteriormente, os dados foram analisados com subsídio na análise de conteúdo temática (MINAYO, 2008). A pesquisa obteve aprovação ética para sua execução conforme regulamentação vigente envolvendo pesquisas com seres humanos. Quanto aos resultados, as categorias emergentes afloraram primariamente da análise indutiva e ascendente dos dados e se constituíram em três eixos principais: 1) espaços e práticas de reabilitação para a constituição de novas encenações de vida; 2) desafios à reabilitação; e 3) tessitura da reabilitação e reinvenção dos sujeitos. Foi possível conhecer em que medida as reinvenções se constituem e permeiam os cotidianos materiais e simbólicos de quem perdeu a visão, e os avanços e os desafios nessa construção. Adicionalmente, propomos um modelo de reabilitação inclusiva com vistas a melhor compreender as instâncias para atuação entre estado-sujeito-sociedade, cujas características principais são: biopsicossocial, interdependência, acessibilidade, aceitação da diversidade e valorização dos protagonismos dos sujeitos. Os achados da pesquisa nos levam a considerar como necessária a recusa da abordagem negativa da deficiência visual, pautada nas ideias de falta, déficit e defeito, transmutando-a para uma noção de potência inventiva propulsora da emancipação, no intuito de fazer emergir um mundo comum e heterogêneo aberto ao diálogo com a diversidade e permeado pelo modelo da inclusão social (AU).

As a result of the advances in the conquest of rights for people with disabilities during the first years of the 21st century, a greater participation of people with different types of disabilities has been observed in various sectors of society, however this advance has not been observed with the same proportion in the subgroup of visual impairment. One path used by such individuals to reach new levels of life is rehabilitation. Assuming that the spaces and practices of rehabilitation enable the reinvention of life in the face of loss of vision, in this study we aim to analyze the reinventions of life of the person with visual impairment along the rehabilitational path. In this trajectory, we weave a dialogue with the deepening of interdependence based on the theoretical-conceptual contributions developed by Elias (1994), Kittay (2011) and Butler (2015). Methodologically, we undertake an exploratory research with a qualitative approach, supported by dialectics and reflectivity, aiming at potentializing different knowledges. The subjects of this research were fifteen people over eighteen years of age, blind or with low vision, who have undergone or are undergoing visual rehabilitation and members of a university extension group focused on people with disabilities, as well as a key informant linked to the management of the health care network for people with disabilities in the state of Rio Grande do Norte (SESAP) and also a member of the board of directors of the Institute of Education and Rehabilitation of the Blind of Rio Grande do Norte (IERC). To capture the empirical data, we conducted three sessions of heterogeneous focus groups that took place between the months of September and October 2019 and two semi-structured interviews with managers during the same period. Later, the data were analyzed with subsidy in the thematic contente analysis (MINAYO, 2008). The research obtained ethical approval for its execution in accordance with current regulations involving research with human beings. As for the results, the emerging categories emerged primarily from the inductive and ascending analysis of the data and were constituted in three main axes: 1) spaces and practices of rehabilitation for the constitution of new enclaves, 2) challenges to rehabilitation; and 3) subject's rehabilitation and reinvention. It was possible to know the extent to which reinventions constitute and permeate the material and symbolic daily lives of those who have lost their vision, and the advances and challenges in this construction. Additionally, we propose an inclusive model of rehabilitation with a view to better understand the instances for action between the subject-subject-society, whose main characteristics are: biopsychosocial, interdependence, accessibility, acceptance of diversity and appreciation of the protagonisms of the subjects. The findings of the research lead us to consider as necessary the refusal of the negative approach to visual disability, based on the ideas of lack, deficit and defect, transmuting it to a notion of inventive power that propels emancipation, in order to bring out a common and heterogeneous world open to dialogue with diversity and permeated by the model of social inclusion (AU).

Environmental and behavioural interventions for reducing physical activity limitation and preventing falls in older people with visual impairment.

BACKGROUND: Impairment of vision is associated with a decrease in activities of daily living. Avoidance of physical activity in older adults with visual impairment can lead to functional decline and is an important risk factor for falls. The rate of falls and fractures is higher in older people with visual impairment than in age-matched visually normal older people. Possible interventions to reduce activity restriction and prevent falls include environmental and behavioral interventions. OBJECTIVES: We aimed to assess the effectiveness and safety of environmental and behavioral interventions in reducing physical activity limitation, preventing falls and improving quality of life amongst visually impaired older people. SEARCH METHODS: We searched CENTRAL (including the Cochrane Eyes and Vision Trials Register) (Issue 2, 2020), Ovid MEDLINE, Embase and eight other databases to 4 February 2020, with no language restrictions. SELECTION CRITERIA: Eligible studies were randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and quasi-randomized controlled trials (Q-RCTs) that compared environmental interventions, behavioral interventions or both, versus control (usual care or no intervention); or that compared different types of environmental or behavioral interventions. Eligible study populations were older people (aged 60 and over) with irreversible visual impairment, living in their own homes or in residential settings. To be eligible for inclusion, studies must have included a measure of physical activity or falls, the two primary outcomes of interest. Secondary outcomes included fear of falling, and quality of life. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS: We used standard Cochrane methods. We assessed the certainty of the evidence using the GRADE approach. MAIN RESULTS: We included six RCTs (686 participants) conducted in five countries (Australia, Hungary, New Zealand, UK, US) with follow-up periods ranging from two to 12 months. Participants in these trials included older adults (mean age 80 years) and were mostly female (69%), with visual impairments of varying severity and underlying causes. Participants mostly lived in their homes and were physically independent. We classified all trials as having high risk of bias for masking of participants, and three trials as having high or unclear risk of bias for all other domains. The included trials evaluated various intervention strategies (e.g. an exercise program versus home safety modifications). Heterogeneity of study characteristics, including interventions and outcomes, (e.g. different fall measures), precluded any meta-analysis. Two trials compared the home safety modification by occupational therapists versus social/home visits. One trial (28 participants) reported physical activity at six months and showed no evidence of a difference in mean estimates between groups (step counts: mean difference (MD) = 321, 95% confidence interval (CI) -1981 to 2623; average walking time (minutes): MD 1.70, 95% CI -24.03 to 27.43; telephone questionnaire for self-reported physical activity: MD -3.68 scores, 95% CI -20.6 to 13.24; low-certainty of evidence for each outcome). Two trials reported the proportion of participants who fell at six months (risk ratio (RR) 0.76, 95% CI 0.38 to 1.51; 28 participants) and 12 months (RR 0.59, 95% CI 0.43 to 0.80, 196 participants) with low-certainty of evidence for each outcome. One trial (28 participants) reported fear of falling at six months, using the Short Falls Efficacy Scale-International, and found no evidence of a difference in mean estimates between groups (MD 2.55 scores, 95% CI -0.51 to 5.61; low-certainty of evidence). This trial also reported quality of life at six months using 12-Item Short Form Health Survey, and showed no evidence of a difference in mean estimates between groups (MD -3.14 scores, 95% CI -10.86 to 4.58; low-certainty of evidence). Five trials compared a behavioral intervention (exercise) versus usual activity or social/home visits. One trial (59 participants) assessed self-reported physical activity at six months and showed no evidence of a difference between groups (MD 9.10 scores, 95% CI -13.85 to 32.5; low-certainty of evidence). Three trials investigated different fall measures at six or 12 months, and found no evidence of a difference in effect estimates (RRs for proportion of fallers ranged from 0.54 (95% CI 0.29 to 1.01; 41 participants); to 0.93 (95% CI 0.61 to 1.39; 120 participants); low-certainty of evidence for each outcome). Three trials assessed the fear of falling using Short Falls Efficacy Scale-International or the Illinois Fear of Falling Measure from two to 12 months, and found no evidence of a difference in mean estimates between groups (the estimates ranged from -0.88 score (95% CI -2.72 to 0.96, 114 participants) to 1.00 score (95% CI -0.13 to 2.13; 59 participants); low-certainty of evidence). One trial (59 participants) assessed the European Quality of Life scale at six months (MD -0.15 score, 95% CI -0.29 to -0.01), and found no evidence of a clinical difference between groups (low-certainty of evidence). AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS: There is no evidence of effect for most of the environmental or behavioral interventions studied for reducing physical activity limitation and preventing falls in visually impaired older people. The certainty of evidence is generally low due to poor methodological quality and heterogeneous outcome measurements. Researchers should form a consensus to adopt standard ways of measuring physical activity and falls reliably in older people with visual impairments. Fall prevention trials should plan to use objectively measured or self-reported physical activity as outcome measures of reduced activity limitation. Future research should evaluate the acceptability and applicability of interventions, and use validated questionnaires to assess the adherence to rehabilitative strategies and performance during activities of daily living.

Helping the Blind to Get through COVID-19: Social Distancing Assistant Using Real-Time Semantic Segmentation on RGB-D Video.

The current COVID-19 pandemic is having a major impact on our daily lives. Social distancing is one of the measures that has been implemented with the aim of slowing the spread of the disease, but it is difficult for blind people to comply with this. In this paper, we present a system that helps blind people to maintain physical distance to other persons using a combination of RGB and depth cameras. We use a real-time semantic segmentation algorithm on the RGB camera to detect where persons are and use the depth camera to assess the distance to them; then, we provide audio feedback through bone-conducting headphones if a person is closer than 1.5 m. Our system warns the user only if persons are nearby but does not react to non-person objects such as walls, trees or doors; thus, it is not intrusive, and it is possible to use it in combination with other assistive devices. We have tested our prototype system on one blind and four blindfolded persons, and found that the system is precise, easy to use, and amounts to low cognitive load.

Lingual electrotactile discrimination ability is associated with the presence of specific connective tissue structures (papillae) on the tongue surface.

Electrical stimulation of nerve endings in the tongue can be used to communicate information to users and has been shown to be highly effective in sensory substitution applications. The anterior tip of the tongue has very small somatosensory receptive fields, comparable to those of the finger tips, allowing for precise two-point discrimination and high tactile sensitivity. However, perception of electrotactile stimuli varies significantly between users, and across the tongue surface. Despite this, previous studies all used uniform electrode grids to stimulate a region of the dorsal-medial tongue surface. In an effort to customize electrode layouts for individual users, and thus improve efficacy for sensory substitution applications, we investigated whether specific neuroanatomical and physiological features of the tongue are associated with enhanced ability to perceive active electrodes. Specifically, the study described here was designed to test whether fungiform papillae density and/or propylthiouracil sensitivity are positively or negatively associated with perceived intensity and/or discrimination ability for lingual electrotactile stimuli. Fungiform papillae number and distribution were determined for 15 participants and they were exposed to patterns of electrotactile stimulation (ETS) and asked to report perceived intensity and perceived number of stimuli. Fungiform papillae number and distribution were then compared to ETS characteristics using comprehensive and rigorous statistical analyses. Our results indicate that fungiform papillae density is correlated with enhanced discrimination ability for electrical stimuli. In contrast, papillae density, on average, is not correlated with perceived intensity of active electrodes. However, results for at least one participant suggest that further research is warranted. Our data indicate that propylthiouracil taster status is not related to ETS perceived intensity or discrimination ability. These data indicate that individuals with higher fungiform papillae number and density in the anterior medial tongue region may be better able to use lingual ETS for sensory substitution.

Navigation aid for blind persons by visual-to-auditory sensory substitution: A pilot study.

PURPOSE: In this study, we investigate to what degree augmented reality technology can be used to create and evaluate a visual-to-auditory sensory substitution device to improve the performance of blind persons in navigation and recognition tasks. METHODS: A sensory substitution algorithm that translates 3D visual information into audio feedback was designed. This algorithm was integrated in an augmented reality based mobile phone application. Using the mobile device as sensory substitution device, a study with blind participants (n = 7) was performed. The participants navigated through pseudo-randomized obstacle courses using either the sensory substitution device, a white cane or a combination of both. In a second task, virtual 3D objects and structures had to be identified by the participants using the same sensory substitution device. RESULTS: The realized application for mobile devices enabled participants to complete the navigation and object recognition tasks in an experimental environment already within the first trials without previous training. This demonstrates the general feasibility and low entry barrier of the designed sensory substitution algorithm. In direct comparison to the white cane, within the study duration of ten hours the sensory substitution device did not offer a statistically significant improvement in navigation.

Using a ripple wall to help blind people measure the water level in a container.

The aim of this study is to determine whether swiping the ripple wall of a container can help blind people to measure the water level in it. Swiping the ripples on the wall of a container above the water level produces a different sound from doing so below the water level, and this difference in sound may be able to indicate the level of water in the container. Such sound differences associated with 27 3 D-printed containers with a capacity of 500 ml and various forms were recorded. One of the printed containers and a commercially available beverage container were tested by blind people to measure water levels in three operations. The experimental results reveal that the thickness of the wall affected the sound most strongly. The errors in the estimated water levels were significantly smaller when the containers was lifted and swiped than when it was lifted only. Practitioner summary: Lifting only is used by blind people to judge the fullness of a container. The experimental results reveal that the errors in the estimated water levels were significantly smaller when blind people lifted and swiped a 500 ml container with a ripple wall than when it was lifted only. Abbreviations: FA I: fast adapting fibers I; FA II: fast adapting fibers II; SA I: slowly adapting fibers I; SA II: slowly adapting fibers II.