Search Results

Abstract

PURPOSE: This study aimed to evaluate the perception and degree of satisfaction of blind individuals regarding an electronic cane prototype with a wearable haptic interface.
METHODS: Two scenarios with different obstacles were created to conduct tests with the canes (the user's cane and the prototype one). The perception and satisfaction of participants regarding the electronic cane were assessed using a questionnaire, the number of collisions during the tests, and the time each individual took to complete the course in each scenario.
RESULTS: Ten blind individuals who used the white cane participated in this study. Eight were males, and two were females. Their age ranged from 23 to 43 (average 32.3 ± 7.13 years and median 32 years). There was a tendency for fewer collisions with ground obstacles when the electronic cane was used than when the white cane was used. However, there was no statistically significant difference between the number of collisions and the course completion time in each scenario with either canes tested.
CONCLUSION: Overall, the perception and satisfaction of individuals regarding the prototype used were positive.

Keywords: Blindness; Canes; Patient satisfaction; Perception; Haptic technology; Wearable electronic devices; Surveys and questionnaires

Abstract

PURPOSE: This study aimed to characterize retinitis pigmentosa associated with the eyes shut homolog gene, which causes hereditary retinal degeneration.
METHODS: The anatomical and functional findings of retinitis pigmentosa in patients with variants of the eyes shut homolog gene were characterized and compared using multimodal imaging and genetic analysis of the variants. Clinical data such as visual acuity, lens status, and refraction were obtained from medical records. Patients underwent an ophthalmic examination, including static visual field, microperimetry, optical coherence tomography, fundus autofluorescence, and fundus photography.
RESULTS: Twenty-two patients were included in the study. Several anatomical and functional characteristics of retinitis pigmentosa-eyes shut homolog were identified, including the presence of cataracts, cystoid macular edema, epiretinal membrane, and a tubular visual field. Genetic results revealed 26 distinct variants in the cohort, with 7 novel variants not previously documented or reported in the scientific literature or databases.
CONCLUSION: The findings demonstrate that eyes shut homolog-retinitis pigmentosa manifests in specific patterns, starting in adolescence with mild progression and advancing with age. The integration of multimodal imaging and genetic analysis has provided a detailed understanding of the anatomical and functional features of retinitis pigmentosa-eyes shut homolog. Seven novel variants of the eyes shut homolog gene have been identified. These findings enhance the understanding of eyes shut homolog-related retinitis pigmentosa characteristics of by detailing the spectrum of mutations in this gene within the Brazilian population.

Keywords: Retinal diseases/diagnostic imaging; Retinitis pigmentosa/genetics; Retinal degeneration; Eye proteins/genetics; Eye diseases, hereditary/genetics; Genes, recessive; Phenotype; Multimodal imaging; Tomography, optical coherence/methods; Fluorescein angiogr