Advances in Technology-Assisted Visual Rehabilitation Therapies: Scoping Review

Clinical Snapshot

Key Findings

• P Value: Not reported

• Effect Size: Not quantified - scoping review methodology

• Primary Outcome: Technology-assisted visual rehabilitation therapies demonstrate improvements in visual function, autonomy, and quality of life

• Nnt Or Sensitivity: High patient satisfaction and adherence rates reported across interventions

• Confidence Interval: Not applicable for scoping review

Clinical Application

Promising for telerehabilitation and portable devices, but VR and AI technologies may require significant infrastructure investment Relevant for addressing geographic barriers in rural Australia; potential PBS consideration for proven technologies; aligns with RACGP digital health initiatives Adults with visual impairment from various etiologies, particularly those with limited access to traditional rehabilitation services

Abstract

Visual impairment (VI) is a growing condition associated with aging, neurological diseases, and chronic eye conditions. In 2023, more than 2.2 billion people experienced VI, and at least 1 billion could have been prevented or remain untreated. Visual rehabilitation (VR) is essential for optimizing residual vision and promoting functional independence; however, only a minority have access to these services. In recent years, the development of technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI), mobile applications, and virtual reality (VRt) has transformed VR, offering accessible and personalized alternatives. This scoping review aimed to map and categorize the available evidence on technology-assisted visual rehabilitation therapies, identifying the types of technologies used, their applications, and reported clinical and functional outcomes. A scoping review was conducted following the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) methodology and PRISMA-ScR guidelines to map the literature published between 2015 and 2025 on technology-assisted VR therapies in adults with VI worldwide. Twenty-five studies, mainly from developed countries, were included. Interventions included videoconferencing, computerized systems, portable devices, VRt, artificial vision (AV), and smart sensors. Overall, digital technologies were shown to improve visual function, autonomy, and quality of life, with high patient satisfaction and adherence. Telerehabilitation (TR), understood as the remote delivery of visual rehabilitation services through videoconferencing and digital monitoring platforms, has emerged as a viable and cost-effective strategy. In contrast, immersive virtual reality technologies (VRt), head-mounted display systems, and multisensory integration devices have demonstrated potential to stimulate neuroplasticity and enhance functional visual outcomes.Telerehabilitation platforms, immersive virtual reality systems, portable electronic vision enhancement devices, artificial vision technologies, and sensor-based monitoring tools are emerging as promising interventions. These technologies have demonstrated improvements in visual acuity, reading performance, visual field sensitivity, patient adherence, and functional autonomy, although most studies remain small-scale and geographically concentrated in high-income settings.

References

1. 1.Saiz Briceño, M., Trujillo López, M. P., Botia Suárez, L. V., Tobo Hernández, J. C., & Hernández Rincón, E. H. (2026). Advances in Technology-Assisted Visual Rehabilitation Therapies: Scoping Review. Journal of Medical Systems. https://doi.org/10.1523/JNEUROSCI.3248-18.2019