Visual Influences on Vestibular Adaptation

Conditions

• Binocular Vision Abnormalities
• Reduced Vision
• Vestibular Hypofunction

Eligibility Criteria

Sex

ALL

Age

18 Years - 60 Years

Healthy Volunteers

Not accepted

Interventions

• StableEyes: Incremental Vestibulo-Ocular Reflex Adaptation (IVA) — DEVICE
  IVA is delivered using the StableEyes device, which includes a lightweight head-mounted unit with inertial sensors and a micromirror that controls the position of a low-power laser target projected onto a wall. The device adjusts the target's movement based on the participant's head velocity to create a controlled visual error signal that induces vestibulo-ocular reflex (VOR) adaptation. During each session, participants sit about one meter from a blank wall and perform rapid, self-generated head impulses while visually tracking the moving laser target. The target appears at neutral, moves at a fraction of head velocity during each impulse, and briefly disappears before reappearing at center. Each session lasts 15 minutes and includes roughly 150 head impulses in the horizontal or vertical plane. The procedure has been well-tolerated in prior studies with no reported adverse events.

Study Details

The goal of this study is to learn whether a balance-training exercise called incremental vestibulo-ocular reflex adaptation (IVA) is safe and effective for adults with vision impairments, with or without additional vestibular (inner-ear balance) problems. The main questions it aims to answer are: * Does IVA cause only mild, temporary symptoms and no serious adverse events? * Does IVA improve eye-movement reflexes, balance, and walking, and do these improvements differ between people with vision problems alone and those with both vision and vestibular impairments? Researchers will compare adults with vision impairment only to adults who have both vision and vestibular impairments to see whether the groups respond differently to IVA. Participants will: * Complete symptom ratings before and after IVA * Undergo tests of vestibular reflexes (e.g., VOR gain) * Complete balance and walking assessments

Key Dates

Start date

Feb 4, 2026

Status verified

Apr 2026

Primary completion

Dec 31, 2029

Completion

Dec 31, 2029

Study Design

Enrollment

100 participants (estimated)

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Intervention model

CROSSOVER

Primary purpose

BASIC_SCIENCE

Arms

• Experimental: Group 1: Abnormal Uncorrected Static Visual Acuity (No Vestibular Hypofunction)
  Adults with abnormal uncorrected distance visual acuity and normal vestibular function. This group will be part of Experiment 1. This experiment studies people whose main visual problem is reduced uncorrected distance visual acuity (i.e., blurry vision without glasses/contacts). Experiment 1 tests the effect of blurry vision on VOR adaptation
• Experimental: Group 2: Abnormal Uncorrected Static Visual Acuity + Vestibular Hypofunction
  Adults with abnormal uncorrected distance visual acuity and unilateral vestibular hypofunction. This group will be part of Experiment 1. This experiment studies people whose main visual problem is reduced uncorrected distance visual acuity (i.e., blurry vision without glasses/contacts). Experiment 1 tests the effect of blurry vision on VOR adaptation
• Experimental: Group 3: Binocular Vision Abnormalities (No Vestibular Hypofunction)
  Adults with binocular vision abnormalities (e.g., convergence insufficiency, ocular misalignment) and normal vestibular function. This group will be part of Experiment 2. This experiment studies people whose main visual problem is how the two eyes work together (e.g., convergence insufficiency, ocular misalignment). Experiment 2 tests the effect of binocular vision dysfunction on VOR adaptation
• Experimental: Group 4: Binocular Vision Abnormalities + Vestibular Hypofunction
  Adults with binocular vision abnormalities and unilateral vestibular hypofunction. This group will be part of Experiment 2. This experiment studies people whose main visual problem is how the two eyes work together (e.g., convergence insufficiency, ocular misalignment). Experiment 2 tests the effect of binocular vision dysfunction on VOR adaptation

Primary Outcome Measure

Change in Vestibulo-Ocular Reflex (VOR) Gain [ Time Frame: Baseline (visit 1) (before and after after IVA intervention), Visit 2 (2-10 days from baseline) (before and after IVA intervention) ]

Central Contacts

• Colin R Grove, PT,DPT,PhD
  (404) 712-8685
  [email protected]
• Hannah M Morris
  [email protected]

Locations (2)

Find similar trials in Atlanta, GA

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