Commentary: Exploring ‘vision nanny,’ a digital application for intervention for children with Cortical/Cerebral Visual Impairment
Year: 2024
Type: editorial
Abstract: Cortical/cerebral visual impairment (CVI) is a primary cause of pediatric visual impairment, affecting 30–40% of visually impaired children, often alongside conditions like cerebral palsy, Down syndrome, and developmental disabilities.[1-10] As survival rates among premature infants and those with perinatal brain injury increase, CVI’s prevalence is expected to grow, posing a significant public health concern.[11,12] Presently, no medical intervention addresses this brain-related visual impairment, leaving rehabilitation as the sole avenue for improving quality of life. Traditionally, visual skills training relies on objects or images such as bold checkerboard patterns, pictures, and light boxes with sharp contrasting colors.[13-15] However, CVI demands personalized materials tailored to brain-induced functional impairments, primarily achievable through digital intervention. Over the past decade, the proliferation of mobile apps targeting early intervention for children with multiple cognitive disabilities has demonstrated the efficacy of digital interventions.[16-18] Developed in collaboration with technical support of the vision rehabilitation team at the LV Prasad Eye Institute (LVPEI), “Vision Nanny,” a web-based Software Service (SaaS) platform,[19] was explicitly designed for CVI intervention [Table 1].Table 1: Features of the digital app ‘Vision Nanny’“Vision Nanny,” was investigated at the Institute for Vision Rehabilitation at LVPEI among 35 children aged 9 months to 5 years. The app’s user-friendly design, with customizable activities, device compatibility across various platforms, and comprehensive activity modules tailored to improve visual skills in children across different CVI phases, enabled home-based intervention. This saved time and costs associated with therapy, material procurement, and frequent visits to intervention centers, while also encouraging parental involvement and motivation for daily progress [Table 2]. Overall, the study yielded positive results indicative of digital intervention’s effectiveness.[18]Table 2: Comparison of response to conventional vs digital interventionCrafted with user-friendliness in mind, “Vision Nanny” sets itself apart from other digital solutions, often too complex or tailored exclusively for therapists, while being available through monthly and yearly subscriptions, ensuring affordability and flexibility for users. With customizable activities, cross-device accessibility, phase-specific modules, and tools for adapting educational materials, Vision Nanny provides a comprehensive platform for caregivers, therapists, and educators to enhance the visual skills of children with cortical/cerebral visual impairment. In regions like India, challenges such as awareness gaps and limited resources impede the delivery of comprehensive CVI care. However, the emergence of digital interventions, exemplified by “Vision Nanny,” offers promising avenues for personalized and effective CVI intervention [Table 3]. With all its benefits, managing screen time could be a challenge. Parents are advised to use the digital screen for intervention purposes only, rather than leaving it solely to the child to use as a toy for self-engagement without purpose. The present study serves as clear evidence that integrating digital solutions into CVI intervention strategies can be a beacon of hope, improving outcomes and enhancing the quality of life for millions of children worldwide living with this complex condition.Table 3: User feedback on the digital app, Vision Nanny
Source: Indian Journal of Ophthalmology
Institution: L V Prasad Eye Institute
Language: English
Subfield: Epidemiology
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: diamond
OpenAlex ID: W4403850311