Table 2

Personalised training programme through telerehabilitation

SessionGoalExercisesSpecificsGeneral aspects
Session 1To become familiar with the various settings of the device.Change the battery in their magnification device or operate a specific setting (contrast, enlargement, colour reversal, specific distance settings, lighting).Session 1 is similar to the self-training standard provided by eSight. However, instead of explaining all the functions, the LV therapist will select and focus on relevant functions according to the participant's needs and level of technical expertise. For example, colour inversion will be presented to subjects with glaucoma and they will receive a detailed explanation as to why and under what circumstances this function may be useful to them.Generally, the training strategy first requires that participants locate and focus on the desired material (eg, text, medication label). Then, through verbal instructions, they will adjust settings and the position of the head. Given the description of what they can see through eSight Eyewear, they will receive feedback on the working distance, viewing angle and level of zoom to obtain the best magnification and field of view. To optimise verbal instruction, the LV therapist will utilise an eSight device at the same time and will be able to adjust settings synchronously with participants. Then, the participants are required to keep a stable and optimal position and will be asked later to reproduce it with less and less assistance from the LV therapist.
Session 2To train eye movement control and, if needed, eccentric fixation.Training of eye movement control, such as fixation and saccades, with various exercises, such as following of a moving target with different sizes and contrasts, or exercises to reach the maximum position of gaze (extracted from the McGill Low Vision Manual and the eSkills guide) Training for eccentric fixation using specific exercises extracted from the VisExc—INLB eccentric fixation programme.Use of exercises extracted from standard/well established clinical LV guides (the McGill Low Vision Manual and the VisExc—INLB eccentric fixation programme) Expertise of an experienced LV therapist to train eccentric fixation, if needed.
Session 3To focus on visual discrimination and reading skills.Exercises of growing complexity: beginning by reading letters, words, sentences, newspaper or bills; then, continuing with reading instructions on various products and medication labels. Combination of exercises extracted from the McGill Low Vision Manual, the INLB eccentric fixation programme, the eSkills guide and specific relevant reading materials directly identified by the participants.The LV therapist will be able to estimate via the video what the participant's level of reading ability with their eSight device is (ie, working distance, viewing angle, lighting), and will rely on the audio component, listening to the participant read aloud, for their reading fluency (ie, speed, accuracy and print size). Participants will also read relevant materials on their own and will be asked immediately afterwards to hold them up to the camera to confirm whether they had read the text correctly.
Session 4To train writing skills and hand-eye coordination.Training on various writing tasks, such as signing participants' name, check writing, drawing reproduction, writing tasks according to each person's needs (ie, crosswords, drawing or painting). For hand-eye coordination, exercises with card games, exercises by picking up and selecting coins, drawing reproduction, as well as pouring water. Combination of exercises extracted from the McGill Low Vision Manual, the INLB eccentric fixation programme, the eSkills guide and specific relevant reading materials identified by the participants.Mostly focused on participants' specific needs.
Session 5To focus on viewing TV, computer and smartphone screens directly through the eSight Eyewear display.Once participants will have received explanations on how to make the connections between devices by the eSight Corporation staff, they will be trained to adapt the background display, tune in various TV channels, search and dial a phone number, according to their specific needs.Entirely focused on participants' specific needs.
Session 6To train on specific and personalised tasks, according to the needs of each participant.Personalised tasks will be the focus of the training session, and will mostly concern manual activities such as sewing or knitting, crafts or reading sheet music.Entirely focused on participants' specific needs.

  • LV, low vision.