To explore how immersive point-of-view virtual reality experiences affect parents' and carers' perceptions and understanding of their child's visual impairment.
Approach:
Key Findings:
Four major themes emerged: enhanced understanding, emotional impact, reflections on the child's future, and increased empowerment and advocacy.
Participants reported a transformation of abstract ophthalmic terminology into tangible experiences.
The VR experience led to substantial emotional responses, including empathy, relief, sadness, and guilt.
Parents became more proactive advocates for their child's educational and social needs after experiencing visual barriers firsthand.
The VR platform allows for dynamic replication of multiple visual impairments, enhancing understanding of daily challenges faced by children.
Interpretation:
The study suggests that VR may bridge communication gaps in pediatric ophthalmology by providing an embodied understanding of visual impairment, enhancing empathy and advocacy.
Limitations:
The study was small and exploratory, which may limit the generalizability of the findings.
Evidence around family-centered applications of VR in ophthalmology has been limited.
Conclusion:
The findings highlight the potential of VR as an educational and empathic tool within ophthalmology, paving the way for future applications in understanding vision loss and improving communication between families and healthcare providers.
