Visual Rehabilitation in Children With Homonymous Hemianopia: a Pilot Study on Virtual-reality Stimulation (HH-IVR)

January 29, 2024 updated by: Eric Bouffet, The Hospital for Sick Children

Visual Rehabilitation in a Pediatric Population of Patients With Homonymous Hemianopia: a Pilot Study on Virtual-reality Stimulation

There are currently no visual rehabilitation strategies for children presenting visual field defects consecutive to a brain tumor or its treatment. This study seeks to investigate the use of a home-based stimulation visual rehabilitation program using immerse-virtual reality (IVR) in children aged 4-10 years old with a diagnosis of hemianopia

Study Overview

Status

Status

Indicates the current recruitment status or the expanded access status.
Completed

Conditions

Conditions

The disease, disorder, syndrome, illness, or injury that is being studied. On ClinicalTrials.gov, conditions may also include other health-related issues, such as lifespan, quality of life, and health risks.

Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.

Detailed Description

A brain tumor and its treatment can affect the visual system at different levels, from the optic nerves (through compression or infiltration). Children with brain tumors can present visual impairments like decreased visual acuity and contrast sensitivity, loss of color vision, and visual field loss such as hemianopias. Patients with hemianopia present difficulties in detecting stimuli in the defective visual field and show defective scanning and exploration. Moreover, they show a rotation and compression of the auditory space leading to imprecise localization of sound across both hemispaces. Patients with hemianopia naturally develop oculomotor strategies to compensate for visual field loss, but visual rehabilitation procedures must still be developed to optimize/improve visual perception in the blind field. Several studies demonstrated that these patients could improve visual perception in the damaged hemifield after a stimulation procedure where auditory and visual stimuli were temporally and spatially correlated. Such audiovisual stimulation programs induce a functional and anatomical reorganization of the visual connectivity in subcortical and cortical structures over time.

The current strategies rely on a significant workload, over 30 hours of audiovisual stimulation using static, spatially, and temporally coherent stimuli displayed on large screens/panels in a clinical setting. These strategies require frequent visits to the clinic impeding the patients' adherence and compliance and increasing the burden of disease. We seek to develop an audiovisual stimulation procedure using immersive virtual reality (IVR) using a head-mounted display (HMD). This is an emerging and very promising visual rehabilitation approach using high-technology devices. It is developed to provide sensory stimulation with better ecological validity due to virtual reality, greater flexibility due to home-based programs, and improved efficiency due to patient-tailored protocols. IVR is a versatile technology, allowing its potential use for the rehabilitation of a variety of low-vision conditions. There are currently limited practical results on whether this technology is suitable for low-vision patients to use at home and if it can be deployed on a large scale. A few case reports/series studies suggested the potential effectiveness of IVR on visual perception in teenagers, adults, and the elderly but more information as to the potential of use and effectiveness of this technology in children and young teenagers is necessary

Study Type

Study Type

Describes the nature of a clinical study. Study types include interventional studies (also called clinical trials), observational studies (including patient registries), and expanded access.
Interventional

Enrollment (Actual)

Enrollment

The number of participants in a clinical study. The "anticipated" enrollment is the target number of participants that the researchers need for the study.
10

Phase

Phase

The stage of a clinical trial studying a drug or biological product, based on definitions developed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The phase is based on the study's objective, the number of participants, and other characteristics. There are five phases: Early Phase 1 (formerly listed as Phase 0), Phase 1, Phase 2, Phase 3, and Phase 4. Not Applicable is used to describe trials without FDA-defined phases, including trials of devices or behavioral interventions.
  • Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Contact

Study Contact

The name and contact information for the person who can answer enrollment questions for a clinical study. Each location where the study is being conducted may also have a specific contact, who may be better able to answer those questions.

Study Contact Backup

Study Locations

  • Canada
    • Ontario
      • Toronto, Ontario, Canada, M5G1X8
        • The Hospital for Sick Children
      • Toronto, Ontario, Canada, M5G1X8
        • University Health Network

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

The key requirements that people who want to participate in a clinical study must meet or the characteristics they must have. Eligibility criteria consist of both inclusion criteria (which are required for a person to participate in the study) and exclusion criteria (which prevent a person from participating). Types of eligibility criteria include whether a study accepts healthy volunteers, has age or age group requirements, or is limited by sex.

Ages Eligible for Study

8 years to 21 years (Child, Adult)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  1. Homonymous hemianopsia
  2. Male and female.
  3. > 8 years old
  4. Interpupillary distance >=56 mm
  5. BCVA > 20/200
  6. Ability to follow visual and auditory stimuli and training instructions.
  7. Home Wi-Fi access.

Exclusion Criteria:

  1. Ocular diseases
  2. Both eyes with media opacity that impairs microperimetry testing.
  3. Inability to perform during testing and training.
  4. Consumption of psychoactive drugs.
  5. 3 consecutive VRISE scores < 25 at inclusion.
  6. History of vertigo or dizziness
  7. Prior vision rehabilitation interventions.

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Supportive Care
  • Allocation: N/A
  • Interventional Model: Single Group Assignment
  • Masking: None (Open Label)

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm

Participant Group / Arm

A group or subgroup of participants in a clinical trial that receives a specific intervention/treatment, or no intervention, according to the trial's protocol.
Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.
Experimental: Interventional
Immersive virtual-reality stimulation (IVR): 1 session of 3 blocks of 15 trials of 20 seconds each. Rest time is 1-2 minute(s) between blocks. 1 session lasts 19 minutes.1 session every 2 days for 4 weeks (15 sessions total).
Device: Immersive Virtual-Reality Stimulation
IVR stimulation every 2 days (± 1 day) at any time during the day (delivery).

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Primary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, the planned outcome measure that is the most important for evaluating the effect of an intervention/treatment. Most clinical studies have one primary outcome measure, but some have more than one.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Feasibility and effectiveness of a home based audiovisual stimuaton in immersive virtual-reality to restore visual perception in children with brain tumour associated hemianopia.
Time Frame: 7 months

Feasibility objectives for our pilot study to be considered successful

  1. . Number of patients completing the stimulation protocol: ≥ 8 out of 10 patients (80%).
  2. . Number of IVR sessions performed by the patients to consider the stimulation protocol complete: ≥ 12 sessions out of 15 (80%).
  3. . Number of consecutive virtual-reality induced symptoms and effects (VRISE) scores < 25: ≤ 3 per patient during the treatment period.
  4. . Number of patient drop-outs due to cybersickness (discomfort symptoms experienced in VR): ≤ 2 (20%) during the treatment period.
7 months

Secondary Outcome Measures

Secondary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, a planned outcome measure that is not as important as the primary outcome measure for evaluating the effect of an intervention but is still of interest. Most clinical studies have more than one secondary outcome measure.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Change in Visual acuity
Time Frame: 7 months

Corresponds to the potential effectiveness of IVR stimulation in visual acuity assessed by standard procedures by ophthalmologists.

-Best Corrected Visual Acuity, distance, and near vision (range 20/12.5 to <20/1000, higher score = better outcome)
7 months
Change in Reading speed
Time Frame: 4 weeks

This corresponds to the potential effectiveness of IVR stimulation in reading speed assessed by standard procedures by ophthalmologists.

Endpoints will measure change from baseline at 2 and 4 weeks in:

-Mean reading speed (Minnesota Low Vision Reading test, MNREAD - range 0 words/minute to 280 words/minute, higher score = better outcome)
4 weeks
Change in Field of vision
Time Frame: 4 weeks

This corresponds to the potential effectiveness of IVR stimulation in the field of vision assessed by standard procedures by ophthalmologists.

Endpoints will measure change from baseline at 2 and 4 weeks in:

-Mean contrast sensitivity (Functional Acuity Contrast Test, FACT - range 0.48 cyc./deg. to 2.41 cyc./deg., higher score = better outcome)
4 weeks
Change in Quality of life
Time Frame: 4 weeks

This corresponds to the potential effectiveness of IVR stimulation in the quality of life.

Endpoints will measure change from baseline at 2 and 4 weeks in:

-Quality of life scores (Children's Vision Function Questionnaire, higher score = better outcome).
4 weeks

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Sponsor

The organization or person who initiates the study and who has authority and control over the study.
The Hospital for Sick Children

Collaborators

Collaborators

An organization other than the sponsor that provides support for a clinical study. This support may include activities related to funding, design, implementation, data analysis, or reporting.
University Health Network, Toronto

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Actual)

Study Start

The actual date on which the first participant was enrolled in a clinical study. The "anticipated" study start date is the date that the researchers think will be the study start date.
March 1, 2022

Primary Completion (Actual)

Primary Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention to collect final data for the primary outcome measure. Whether the clinical study ended according to the protocol or was terminated does not affect this date. For clinical studies with more than one primary outcome measure with different completion dates, this term refers to the date on which data collection is completed for all the primary outcome measures. The "anticipated" primary completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the primary completion date for the study.
October 31, 2023

Study Completion (Actual)

Study Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention/treatment to collect final data for the primary outcome measures, secondary outcome measures, and adverse events (that is, the last participant's last visit). The "anticipated" study completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the study completion date.
October 31, 2023

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

First Submitted

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submitted a study record to ClinicalTrials.gov. There is typically a delay of a few days between the first submitted date and the record's availability on ClinicalTrials.gov (the first posted date).
August 31, 2021

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submits a study record that is consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. The sponsor or investigator may need to revise and submit a study record one or more times before NLM's QC review criteria are met. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
September 28, 2021

First Posted (Actual)

First Posted

The date on which the study record was first available on ClinicalTrials.gov after National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review has concluded. There is typically a delay of a few days between the date the study sponsor or investigator submitted the study record and the first posted date.
October 4, 2021

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Estimated)

Last Update Posted

The most recent date on which changes to a study record were made available on ClinicalTrials.gov. There may be a delay between when the changes were submitted to ClinicalTrials.gov by the study's sponsor or investigator (the last update submitted date) and the last update posted date.
January 31, 2024

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator submitted changes to a study record that are consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
January 29, 2024

Last Verified

Last Verified

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator confirmed the information about a clinical study on ClinicalTrials.gov as accurate and current. If a study with a recruitment status of recruiting; not yet recruiting; or active, not recruiting has not been confirmed within the past 2 years, the study's recruitment status is shown as unknown.
January 1, 2024

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

Other Study ID Numbers

Identifiers or ID numbers other than the NCT number that are assigned to a clinical study by the study's sponsor, funders, or others. These numbers may include unique identifiers from other trial registries and National Institutes of Health grant numbers.
  • 1000076413

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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