Rapid, accurate, multifunctional and self-assisted vision assessment and screening with interactive desktop autostereoscopy

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to develop an interactive vision screening tool based on desktop autostereoscopy and evaluate its feasibility for testing visual acuity, colour vision, stereo vision and binocular balance clinically. METHODS: An interactive desktop autostereoscopy vision test was developed making it remarkably convenient for individuals to undergo multiple visual function assessments in a single test. With this rapid screening process, an individual’s visual acuity, colour vision, stereo vision and binocular balance can be assessed within several minutes. A total of 155 healthy subjects were enrolled to compare the clinical repeatability, accuracy, inter-visit variability, likeability and efficiency between the autostereoscopy and traditional method. RESULTS: In the repeatability test, the visual acuity measured with autostereoscopy was 0.045±0.018 and 0.035±0.018 (P=0.702) for the first and second tests, respectively. The mean logarithm of the Minimum Angle of Resolution (logMAR) visual acuities measured with the Early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Study (EDTRS) chart and autostereoscopy test were 0.04±0.02 and 0.05±0.02, respectively, which were not significantly different (P=0.849). The correlation between these two kinds of tests was statistically significant (Spearman correlation coefficient =0.829, P<0.001). The results for colour vision, stereo vision, and binocular vision are presented, and the effectiveness of the autostereoscopic method is supported with qualitative data comparing its results with those of the traditional methods. In the likeability test, the EDTRS chart and autostereoscopy test had scores of 2.21±0.53 and 3.04±0.07, while the traditional and autostereoscopy tests for colour vision, stereo vision, and binocular vision had scores of 2.02±0.59 and 3.36±0.93, respectively (P<0.001). Regarding visual fatigue, the mean scores were 0.69±0.04 and 0.42±0.04 (P<0.001) with the EDTRS chart and autostereoscopy test, respectively. Regarding work efficiency, the average testing times per person was 59.65±0.66 and 48.92±0.86 s (P<0.001) with the EDTRS chart and autostereoscopy test, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The autostereoscopy test was conclusively shown to be valid, efficient and repeatable for the measurement of visual acuity, colour vision, stereo vision, and binocular vision, and the process was subjectively well-liked and comfortable.