title: The use of real-time image stabilization and augmented reality eyewear in the treatment of oscillopsia.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The symptom of oscillopsia in patients with bilateral vestibular loss (BVL) can be reduced as dynamic visual acuity (DVA), the reduction in visual acuity during head movement, is improved by using real-time image stabilization, delivered by augmented reality eyewear.
  
  
  METHODS
  Tertiary multidisciplinary neurotology clinic.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospective experimental study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Immersive virtual reality glasses used in combination with a compact digital video camera were used. A software algorithm was developed that used a center-weighted Lucas-Kanade optical flow method to stabilize video in real time. Six patients with BVL were tested for changes in DVA using the eyewear. The ability to read a Snellen chart during a 2-Hz oscillating head rotation DVA test was measured.
  
  
  RESULTS
  For combined scores of vertical and horizontal head rotations, the mean number of lines readable at rest was 7.86, which dropped to 2.77 with head movement (a combination of vertical and horizontal perturbations). This increased to a mean of 6.14 lines with the image stabilization software being activated. This difference was statistically significant (P < .001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This is the first successful attempt to improve dynamic visual acuity in patients with bilateral vestibular loss. Recent hardware upgrades are promising in improving these results even further.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery, University of Toronto, University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario, Canada. mail@davepothier.com
authors.forename: David D
authors.initials: DD
authors.lastname: Pothier
authors.forename: Cian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Hughes
authors.forename: Wanda
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Dillon
authors.forename: Paul J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Ranalli
authors.forename: John A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Rutka
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005139:Eyeglasses; D005260:Female; D019416:Head Movements / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted / Q000295:instrumentation*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012027:Reflex, Vestibulo-Ocular / Q000502:physiology; D014584:User-Computer Interface; D015837:Vestibular Diseases / Q000150:complications* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy; D014786:Vision Disorders / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D014792:Visual Acuity / Q000502:physiology