EmpathEyes: Investigating the impact of virtual reality simulating visual impairment on parents of children with visual impairment

Oral Presentation 2
Dr Michael Williams, Miss Chloe Wagstaff, Prof Gerry Gormley

EmpathEyes: Investigating the impact of virtual reality simulating visual impairment on parents of children with visual impairment

Introduction Parents of children with visual impairment (VI) face many challenges in life and are often unaware of the full extent of visual impairment on their child’s vision. Angel Eyes are an NI-based charity which exists to support families of children with VI. Angel Eyes have developed a virtual reality (VR) application, called EmpathEyes, which simulates different types of visual impairment to participants through a headset. EmpathEyes uses a 3- dimensional virtual environment with layered visual effects to simulate for participants what having a visual impairment is like. This app is unique, providing more functionality and realism than other reported means of simulating VI through VR (1) (2). The aim of the study was to use a phenomenological approach to capturing the immediate impacts on carers of children with VI of using the app.

Methods Ethics committee approval was gained. Carers of children with VI were recruited opportunistically from Angel Eyes' lists of carer contacts. Participants were carers: each attended for a testing session. They were given an EmpathEyes demonstration, tailored to information they provided on their child’s vision profile. Participants were then interviewed about their experiences following the VR demonstration. Transcripts of interviews were then analysed for themes.

Results Five themes emerged; (1)“It all makes sense now”: peering through their child’s eyes, (2) “A flood of emotions”: real, not virtual emotional response from parents, (3) Seeing into their child’s future, (4) Increasing critical consciousness about their child’s needs and (5) Motivated to make a change.

Discussion This study provides an insight into the experiences of carers of children with visual impairment in Northern Ireland. The immediate impact was real, often emotional and potentially will change carers' behaviours in their interactions with their child and with others involved in their child's life. EmpathEyes gives parents of children with visual impairment an opportunity to “see through” their child’s eyes. It has the potential to be used as an educational tool on visual impairment for parents, teachers and medical professionals.