Brain Stimulation Effects on Orientation and Mobility Skills in Adults With Vision Impairment

Summary

This pilot clinical trial evaluates whether non-invasive brain stimulation improves the orientation and mobility (O\&M) skills of individuals with constricted visual fields in both eyes. The study is composed of three visits. The first visit is meant to confirm eligibility by performing a few clinical tests. Eligible participants will then complete two additional visits, one in which the participants receive active stimulation, and one in which the participants receive placebo (sham) stimulation. Stimulation will be administered in a randomized, double-blind order. To evaluate improvement, various measures of O\&M performance will be assessed on a standardized obstacle course featuring static natural and artificial obstacles at defined intervals after the intervention. The investigators hypothesize that the application of brain stimulation to region of the brain responsible for visual processing will improve the orientation and mobility skills of individuals with binocular constricted visual fields immediately following stimulation, and the results will inform the design of a future, larger-scale study.

Conditions

• Retinitis Pigmentosa (RP)
• Rod Cone Dystrophy
• Visually Impaired Persons
• Peripheral Visual Field Defect of Both Eyes
• Low Vision, Both Eyes
• Vision Loss Partial
• Orientation
• Mobility Difficulty
• Mobility Limitation
• Mobility and Independence
• Glaucoma

Interventions

DEVICE

Active hf-tRNS.

Active hf-tRNS: A weak alternating electric current is applied to the head through two electrodes to affect the cortical excitability of the targeted cells in the brain. Stimulation instrument: neuroConn DC Stimulator Plus 2019 (Direct current stimulator Model number 0021, power: 1.2 W, charger: 2.9 V (maximum 160 mA)) (neurocaregroup.com), or neuroConn DC Stimulator MC 2016 (Multi-channel stimulator Model number 0028, power: 24 W, rating: 12 V (maximum 2 A)) (neurocaregroup.com).

DEVICE

Placebo/sham hf-tRNS

Placebo/sham hf-tRNS: The tRNS machine will be used as in active stimulation, except the electrical current will not be applied. Stimulation instrument: neuroConn DC Stimulator Plus 2019 (Direct current stimulator Model number 0021, power: 1.2 W, charger: 2.9 V (maximum 160 mA)) (neurocaregroup.com), or neuroConn DC Stimulator MC 2016 (Multi-channel stimulator Model number 0028, power: 24 W, rating: 12 V (maximum 2 A)) (neurocaregroup.com).

Sponsors & Collaborators

• University of Waterloo School of Optometry and Vision Science

  collaborator UNKNOWN

• The Hong Kong Polytechnic University

  collaborator OTHER

• University of Waterloo

  lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

• Benjamin Thompson, PhD · University of Waterloo School of Optometry and Vision Science

Study Design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

TREATMENT

Masking

DOUBLE

Model

CROSSOVER

Eligibility

Min Age

18 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2026-06-01

Primary Completion

2027-08-31

Completion

2027-08-31

Countries

• Canada

Study Locations