# Mobility Enhancement and Vision Rehabilitation ## expand\_more ![HMS Ophthalmology Center of Excellence](/sites/g/files/omnuum9886/files/styles/hwp_1_1__100x100_scale/public/eye/files/shield_0.png?itok=EkJmwAOl) **Center of Excellence** ![Vision Rehab](/sites/g/files/omnuum9886/files/eye/files/mobiliyu.png) Sort***CO-DIRECTORS*** [Lotfi Merabet, OD, PhD, MPH](/lotfimerabet) [Joseph F. Rizzo III, MD](/josephrizzo) ***MEMBERS*** [See a list of Mobility Enhancement](/faculty/mobility) [and Vision Rehabilitation faculty](/faculty/mobility) Members of the Mobility Enhancement and Vision Rehabilitation Center are developing and applying real-world and virtual environments for research, clinical assessment, and rehabilitation training. Our researchers aim to help individuals with low vision maximize their remaining sight and improve their quality of life and independence. Low vision refers to moderate-to-severe vision loss that cannot be corrected with eyeglasses, contact lenses, medicine, or surgery. Low vision affects nearly 14 million Americans and can result from disease or injury to the eye or brain. Low vision may make it difficult to read, recognize faces, watch TV, drive, or see at night. Our faculty are focused on developing novel and innovative low-vision aids and evaluation techniques for those with partial visual field loss from stroke, traumatic brain injuries, central vision loss from AMD, and peripheral field vision loss from glaucoma and retinitis pigmentosa so they can navigate and move more safely on foot and by car. ## Major Research Breakthroughs In the last 20 years, our investigators have achieved many research milestones. Notably, they have: - Spearheaded the Boston Retinal Implant Project, a retina prosthesis designed to restore useful vision to patients who are blind from age-related macular degeneration or retinitis pigmentosa - Developed auditory-based video games for improving navigation and other cognitive skills in blind adolescents - Developed a vision-assistive device that detects potential hazards in the environment and reduces risk of collision for those who are blind or have visual field loss - Developed eyeglasses that use high-power prisms to optically expand the visual fields of patients with hemianopia - Developed the Boston Blink-netic Project, which has successfully treated patients with eyelid paralysis using a nonsurgical approach of embedding a magnet in biocompatible material and adhering it to the eyelid skin ## 2020 Vision: Promising Areas for Future Research Looking to the future, our investigators hope to develop more advanced head-mounted displays that use improved computer and image processing software to assist patients with visual impairments. ## Recent News - [Eli Peli, MSc, OD, to be Honored with Oberdorfer Award in Low Vision](/news/eli-peli-will-be-honored-oberdorfer-award-low-vision "Eli Peli Will Be honored with Oberdorfer Award in Low Vision") - [SuperVision: A Smart App to Help People with Low Vision Search Their Surroundings](https://focus.masseyeandear.org/supervision-a-smart-app-to-help-people-with-low-vision-search-their-surroundings/) - [Skip the Yellow Glasses for Night Driving, Study Says](https://focus.masseyeandear.org/skip-the-yellow-glasses-for-night-driving-study-says/) - [Joseph F. Rizzo, III, MD, Presents the William F. Hoyt Lecture at 2018 AAO Annual Meeting](/news/highlights-2018-aao-annual-meeting) [Read more news](/news?f%5B0%5D=hwp_c_category1%3A65346) ## Featured Publications Download 4 citations download- [BibTeX](/bibcite/export?pager_style=no_pager&number_of_items=4&sort_field=bibcite_year--desc&taxonomy_filters%5Bfield_hwp_c_researcharea%5D%5B0%5D%5Btarget_id%5D=36026&&&format=bibtex) - [EndNote X3 XML](/bibcite/export?pager_style=no_pager&number_of_items=4&sort_field=bibcite_year--desc&taxonomy_filters%5Bfield_hwp_c_researcharea%5D%5B0%5D%5Btarget_id%5D=36026&&&format=endnote8) - [EndNote 7 XML](/bibcite/export?pager_style=no_pager&number_of_items=4&sort_field=bibcite_year--desc&taxonomy_filters%5Bfield_hwp_c_researcharea%5D%5B0%5D%5Btarget_id%5D=36026&&&format=endnote7) - [Endnote tagged](/bibcite/export?pager_style=no_pager&number_of_items=4&sort_field=bibcite_year--desc&taxonomy_filters%5Bfield_hwp_c_researcharea%5D%5B0%5D%5Btarget_id%5D=36026&&&format=tagged) - [Marc](/bibcite/export?pager_style=no_pager&number_of_items=4&sort_field=bibcite_year--desc&taxonomy_filters%5Bfield_hwp_c_researcharea%5D%5B0%5D%5Btarget_id%5D=36026&&&format=marc) - [PubMedId](/bibcite/export?pager_style=no_pager&number_of_items=4&sort_field=bibcite_year--desc&taxonomy_filters%5Bfield_hwp_c_researcharea%5D%5B0%5D%5Btarget_id%5D=36026&&&format=pubmed_id) - [RIS](/bibcite/export?pager_style=no_pager&number_of_items=4&sort_field=bibcite_year--desc&taxonomy_filters%5Bfield_hwp_c_researcharea%5D%5B0%5D%5Btarget_id%5D=36026&&&format=ris) ### 2024 Arioli M, Ferrari C, Merabet L, Cattaneo Z. [Direct reciprocity and reputation shape trust decisions similarly in blind and sighted individuals](/publications/direct-reciprocity-and-reputation-shape-trust-decisions-similarly-blind-and-sighted). Conscious Cogn. 2024;120:103683. PMID: 38552602 Arioli M, Ferrari C, Merabet L, Cattaneo Z. [Direct reciprocity and reputation shape trust decisions similarly in blind and sighted individuals](/publications/direct-reciprocity-and-reputation-shape-trust-decisions-similarly-blind-and-sighted). Conscious Cogn. 2024;120:103683. PMID: 38552602 - add\_circle do\_not\_disturb\_on Abstract This study addresses the effects of blindness on trust. Using an auditory version of the multi-round Trust Game, we investigated the effect of reputation and reciprocity on trust decisions in early blind and sighted participants. During each round of the... Xu J, Bowers A. [Hazard warning modalities and timing thresholds for older drivers with impaired vision](/publications/hazard-warning-modalities-and-timing-thresholds-older-drivers-impaired-vision). Accid Anal Prev. 2024;202:107599. PMID: 38669900 Xu J, Bowers A. [Hazard warning modalities and timing thresholds for older drivers with impaired vision](/publications/hazard-warning-modalities-and-timing-thresholds-older-drivers-impaired-vision). Accid Anal Prev. 2024;202:107599. PMID: 38669900 - add\_circle do\_not\_disturb\_on Abstract PURPOSE: We examined collision warning systems with different modalities and timing thresholds, assessing their impact on responses to pedestrian hazards by drivers with impaired contrast sensitivity (ICS). METHODS: Seventeen ICS (70-84 y, median CS 1.35... Doyon J, Hwang A, Jung JH. [Understanding viewpoint changes in peripheral prisms for field expansion by virtual reality simulation](/publications/understanding-viewpoint-changes-peripheral-prisms-field-expansion-virtual-reality). Biomed Opt Express. 2024;15(3):1393–1407. PMID: 38495729 Doyon J, Hwang A, Jung JH. [Understanding viewpoint changes in peripheral prisms for field expansion by virtual reality simulation](/publications/understanding-viewpoint-changes-peripheral-prisms-field-expansion-virtual-reality). Biomed Opt Express. 2024;15(3):1393–1407. PMID: 38495729 - add\_circle do\_not\_disturb\_on Abstract Prism field expansion is a common treatment for patients with peripheral field loss, shifting images from the blind field into the seeing field. The shifted image originates from a new viewpoint translated and rotated from the original viewpoint by the... Walter K, Manley C, Bex P, Merabet L. [Visual search patterns during exploration of naturalistic scenes are driven by saliency cues in individuals with cerebral visual impairment](/publications/visual-search-patterns-during-exploration-naturalistic-scenes-are-driven-saliency). Sci Rep. 2024;14(1):3074. PMID: 38321069 Walter K, Manley C, Bex P, Merabet L. [Visual search patterns during exploration of naturalistic scenes are driven by saliency cues in individuals with cerebral visual impairment](/publications/visual-search-patterns-during-exploration-naturalistic-scenes-are-driven-saliency). Sci Rep. 2024;14(1):3074. PMID: 38321069 - add\_circle do\_not\_disturb\_on Abstract We investigated the relative influence of image salience and image semantics during the visual search of naturalistic scenes, comparing performance in individuals with cerebral visual impairment (CVI) and controls with neurotypical development... [ More arrow\_circle\_right ](/publications) ## Recent News [### Lotfi Merabet, OD, PhD, MPH, Named Inaugural Frederick and Thaddeus Jakobiec Chair in Ophthalmology ](/news/lotfi-merabet-od-phd-mph-named-inaugural-frederick-and-thaddeus-jakobiec-chair) September 06, 2022 [### Eli Peli Will Be honored with Oberdorfer Award in Low Vision ](/news/eli-peli-will-be-honored-oberdorfer-award-low-vision) January 09, 2020 [### Eli Peli, MSc, OD, to receive 2018 Harold Amos Faculty Diversity Award ](/news/eli-peli-msc-od-receive-2018-harold-amos-faculty-diversity-award) February 21, 2018 [ More arrow\_circle\_right ](/news?f%5B0%5D=hwp_c_category1%3A65346)