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The future of ophthalmology and vision science with the Apple Vision Pro

Authors:
Ethan Waisberg at University of Cambridge
Ethan Waisberg
Joshua Ong at University of Michigan
Joshua Ong
Mouayad Masalkhi at Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland
Mouayad Masalkhi
Nasif Zaman at University of Nevada, Reno
Nasif Zaman
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COMMENT
OPEN
The future of ophthalmology and vision science with the Apple
Vision Pro
Ethan Waisberg ]]]
1
✉, Joshua Ong
2
, Mouayad Masalkhi
1
, Nasif Zaman
3
, Prithul Sarker
]]]
3
, Andrew G. Lee
4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11
and
Alireza Tavakkoli
]]]
3
© The Author(s) 2023
Eye; https://doi.org/10.1038/s41433-023-02688-5
The Apple Vision Pro is an innovative gadget that integrates
sophisticated technology to deliver an innovative spatial comput-
ing experience [1]. This device provides a seamless integration of
digital media and the physical world and gives users the ability to
navigate using their eyes, hands, and voice [1]. The device
incorporates sophisticated cameras and sensors to facilitate
precise visual perception, environmental awareness, and hand
recognition [1]. The audio straps and speakers offer a superior
’Spatial Audio’ experience that integrates with surrounding
ambient sounds. Most importantly, the Apple Vision Pro is fitted
with personalized micro-OLED screens deliver a greater number
of pixels to each eye, providing unique clarity (Fig. 1). Paired with
eye-tracking technology and various other features, the Apple
Vision Pro offers exciting technical advances with hopes of further
improvements in performance and lower cost for extended reality
devices in the near future.
The advent of extended reality has revolutionized the field of
ophthalmology [2]. Current research includes utilizing extended
reality for surgical training, ophthalmic diagnosis, and even
monitoring of astronaut structural and functional vision changes
during spaceflight [2–4]. With aging populations worldwide, vision
screening will only become of greater importance in the coming
years. Extended reality vision screening will also enable more
frequent examinations of patients, which is particularly beneficial to
those with chronic conditions like glaucoma and age-related macular
degeneration (AMD) that have the potential to cause irreversi-
ble blindness if changes are left undetected [5]. Early detection,
monitoring, and treatment of such diseases can potentially be an
effective method prevent further vision loss [6]. The utilization of
Apple Vision Pro and other future extended reality headsets could
potentially be vital as a solution for vision screening globally, without
needing any additional specialized equipment. In underserved areas
and developing countries, there is a lack in trained ophthalmic
healthcare experts and specialized equipment to screen populations,
and extended reality visual screening can solve this deficit.
The potential integration of Apple Vision Pro’s sophisticated
display technology also presents as a promising method to
restore vision through augmented reality. For example, extended
reality has previously been used to successfully been used to
restore vision by reducing text metamorphopsia [7], visual field
expansion [8], visual acuity [8], to being used to treat mild cases
of strabismus [9]. All things considered, the Apple Vision Pro and
future work in the extended reality space represent an innovative
strategy for enhancing visual acuity and improving the overall
quality of life of individuals suffering from ophthalmic disorders.
Ophthalmologists and vision scientists may benefit from knowing
of the unique technical capabilities of such technology and the
advances in brings to the field.
REFERENCES
1. Apple Vision Pro. Apple. Accessed June, 2023. https://www.apple.com/apple-
vision-pro/.
2. Iskander M, Ogunsola T, Ramachandran R, McGowan R, Al-Aswad LA. Virtual reality
and augmented reality in ophthalmology: a contemporary prospective. Asia-Pac J
Ophthalmol. 2021;10:244–52. https://doi.org/10.1097/APO.0000000000000409.
3. Ong J, Tavakkoli A, Zaman N, Kamran SA, Waisberg E, Gautam N, et al. Terrestrial
health applications of visual assessment technology and machine learning in
spaceflight associated neuro-ocular syndrome. npj Microgravity. 2022;8:37.
https://doi.org/10.1038/s41526-022-00222-7.
4. Waisberg E, Ong J, Zaman N, Kamran SA, Lee AG, Tavakkoli A. Head-mounted
dynamic visual acuity for G-transition effects during interplanetary spaceflight:
technology development and results from an early validation study. Aerosp Med
Hum Perform. 2022;93:800–5. https://doi.org/10.3357/AMHP.6092.2022.
5. Heru: Virtual Eye Exam & Visual Field | AR Eye Machine. Heru. Accessed June, 2023.
https://www.seeheru.com/.
Fig. 1 The Apple Vision Pro headset.
1
University College Dublin School of Medicine, Belfield, Dublin, Ireland.
2
Michigan Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.
3
Human-Machine Perception
Laboratory, Department of Computer Science and Engineering, University of Nevada, Reno, Reno, NV, USA.
4
Center for Space Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX,
USA.
5
Department of Ophthalmology, Blanton Eye Institute, Houston Methodist Hospital, Houston, TX, USA.
6
The Houston Methodist Research Institute, Houston Methodist
Hospital, Houston, TX, USA.
7
Departments of Ophthalmology, Neurology, and Neurosurgery, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA.
8
Department of Ophthalmology,
University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, USA.
9
University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA.
10
Texas A&M College of Medicine, Bryan, TX, USA.
11
Department of Ophthalmologys, The University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, Iowa City, IA, USA. ✉email: ethan.waisberg@ucdconnect.ie
Received: 19 July 2023 Revised: 20 July 2023 Accepted: 27 July 2023
1234567890();,:
6. Waisberg E, Ong J, Paladugu P, Zaman N, Kamran SA, Lee AG, et al. Optimizing
screening for preventable blindness with head-mounted visual assessment
technology. J Vis Impairment Blindness. 2022;116:579–81. https://doi.org/10.1177/
0145482X221124186.
7. Ong J, Zaman N, Waisberg E, Kamran SA, Lee AG, Tavakkoli A. Head-mounted
digital metamorphopsia suppression as a countermeasure for macular-related
visual distortions for prolonged spaceflight missions and terrestrial health.
Wearable Technol. 2022;3:e26. https://doi.org/10.1017/wtc.2022.21.
8. Pur DR, Lee-Wing N, Bona MD. The use of augmented reality and virtual reality for
visual field expansion and visual acuity improvement in low vision rehabilitation:
a systematic review. Graefes Arch Clin Exp Ophthalmol. 2023;261:1743–55. https://
doi.org/10.1007/s00417-022-05972-4.
9. Waisberg E, Ong J, Zaman N, Kamran SA, Sarker P, Tavakkoli A, et al. Extended
reality for strabismus screening in developing countries. Eye. Published online
June, 2023. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41433-023-02649-y.
AUTHOR CONTRIBUTIONS
EW, JO, MM: conceptualization, writing. NZ, PS, AGL, AT: review, intellectual support.
FUNDING
NASA grant [80NSSC20K183]: a non-intrusive ocular monitoring framework to model
ocular structure and functional changes due to long-term spaceflight. Open Access
funding provided by the IReL Consortium.
COMPETING INTERESTS
The authors declare no competing interests.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Correspondence and requests for materials should be addressed to Ethan Waisberg .
Reprints and permission information is available at http://www.nature.com/
reprints
Publisher’s note Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims
in published maps and institutional affiliations.
Open Access This article is licensed under a Creative Commons
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© The Author(s) 2023
E. Waisberg et al.
2
Eye
... For AR to grow in use, some researchers suggest that the most important considerations are ergonomics and ease of use (Waisberg et al., 2023). As detailed above, some challenges in hardware due to the microphone and ergonomic fit were observed in this research as well. ...
... However, it is important to highlight the ongoing advancements in AR hardware, particularly in achieving a seamless integration of real and virtual worlds. Progress in this field, exemplified by products like Apple's Vision Pro (Tiwari et al., 2023) and Meta's Meta Quest Pro (Dempsey, 2023), have started to break barriers between physical and digital domains (Minaee et al., 2022;Waisberg et al., 2023). Another emerging technology is AR smart lenses, similar to contact lenses, which discreetly incorporate digital elements into a user's visual field, potentially enhancing visual capabilities (Waisberg et al., 2023). ...
... Progress in this field, exemplified by products like Apple's Vision Pro (Tiwari et al., 2023) and Meta's Meta Quest Pro (Dempsey, 2023), have started to break barriers between physical and digital domains (Minaee et al., 2022;Waisberg et al., 2023). Another emerging technology is AR smart lenses, similar to contact lenses, which discreetly incorporate digital elements into a user's visual field, potentially enhancing visual capabilities (Waisberg et al., 2023). Furthermore, AR holds the potential to introduce new sensory dimensions. ...
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... Our initial research in the most commonly known database indexes (Google Scholar, Scopus, Web of Science, PsycINFO) revealed an increasing body of literature, concerning AVP, specifically in the general academic field of health. Such research has been conducted in the field of ophthalmology (Jonnakuti and Frankfort, 2023;Masalkhi et al., 2023) with (Waisberg et al., 2024a) addressing AVP as a mean that can enhance visual acuity and hence, improve individuals quality of life, surgery (Olexa et al., 2024;Waisberg et al., 2024b), medicine (Waisberg et al., 2024c), medical education (Armstrong et al., 2024;Waisberg et al., 2024d) and psychological research and therapy (Zhang et al., 2023). Besides healthcare, a significant number of references to AVP in the bibliography comes from the field of consumer behaviour. ...
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The use of augmented reality and virtual reality for visual field expansion and visual acuity improvement in low vision rehabilitation: a systematic review
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Virtual Reality and Augmented Reality in Ophthalmology: A Contemporary Prospective
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