Recruiting

Virtual Reality Headset Training to Improve Vision After Brain Injury

Plain-English translation of NCT07185971 on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗ · Source last updated April 2026 · Translation generated August 2026 · How we translate trials

This study doesn't follow the usual testing phases — it may be an observational study or a different type of research.

What is this trial?

This trial is testing the PAVE (Parallactic Visual-Field Enhancement) System, a virtual reality headset therapy designed to help restore lost vision in people who have experienced a stroke, traumatic brain injury, or brain surgery. The system displays special visual training exercises on a headset that you wear for 30-minute sessions. Researchers want to see if this treatment can help improve the area of vision that was damaged by the brain injury.

When a stroke, brain injury, or surgery damages the brain's visual centers, it can cause permanent loss of part of the visual field — meaning people lose the ability to see in certain areas, even though their eyes themselves are healthy. There are very few treatments available for this type of vision loss, and this trial is testing whether specialized virtual reality training might help the brain recover or adapt to restore some of that lost sight.

Do you qualify?

You likely qualify if…

you are between 21 and 80 years old
you have a confirmed diagnosis of vision loss in half or a quarter of your visual field (homonymous hemianopia or quadrantanopia) caused by stroke, brain injury, or brain surgery
you experienced your stroke, brain injury, or surgery at least 6 months ago but no more than 10 years ago
you are able to wear a virtual reality headset and attend clinic sessions at least once per week for 8 weeks
you have some remaining vision (not completely blind)

You likely don't qualify if…

you have a physical, neurological, or mental condition that would prevent you from safely using the headset or completing the therapy
you are currently receiving another vision therapy or taking medications that affect brain training (such as amphetamines or dopamine medications)
you have an active implantable medical device such as a pacemaker, defibrillator, or cochlear implant
you have photosensitive epilepsy (seizures triggered by flashing lights)
you have a chronic infection on your head or face, or an immune disorder where infection could be life-threatening

What participation looks like

If you qualify, you will visit a clinic at least once per week for 8 weeks. At each visit, you will wear a virtual reality headset for about 30 minutes and complete visual training exercises displayed on the screen. Researchers will test your vision before and after the treatment period using standard eye exams, and they will also ask you to answer questions about how your vision and daily functioning have changed. The entire study takes about 8 weeks from start to finish.

Virtual Reality Headset Training to Improve Vision After Brain Injury

What is this trial?

Do you qualify?

What participation looks like

Trial locations(2 sites)