“I’m like something out of Star Wars”: A qualitative investigation of the views of people with age-related macular degeneration regarding wearable electronic vision enhancement systems

Purpose: This study explores the initial views of people with age-related macular degeneration towards wearable electronic vision enhancement systems.

Methods: Ten adults with age-related macular degeneration participated in semi-structured interviews, which were analysed using reflexive thematic analysis.

Results: Four themes were identified. Firstly, participants spoke of the wide-ranging impact of sight loss and how current helpful coping strategies still had significant limitations, affecting their desire to seek new solutions. The second theme showed that “other people” offered welcomed support with existing electronic coping solutions and are needed to provide suitable advice and training. However, “other people” limited the acceptability of using new solutions in public places. The third theme captured participants’ desire for a wearable aid providing image magnification and enhancement over a range of distances. The final theme covered the reality of some current wearable technology, perceived as heavy, enclosing, or strange in appearance. Appearance caused some to lose interest in use, although others reframed the devices’ desired usefulness to solo and sedentary activities.

Conclusion: This population are interested in the potential benefits of wearable electronic vision enhancement systems. More work is needed to understand the suitability of current solutions due to participant concerns about training, appearance and performance.