GlaucomaVRNCT07071129

Virtual Reality for Enhancement of Vision

A study testing Virtual Reality Stimulation in people with Glaucoma and Vision Disorder, run by Stanford University at 1 site in United States.

Terminated

Stopped early. The study ended before it was planned to and will not resume.

Official record

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Trial summary

This project aims to evaluate the use of Virtual Reality (VR) based visual stimulation for the treatment of blindness arising from Glaucoma and other retinal diseases or disorders of the visual system, through regeneration of axons of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) in humans. Read more about this study

Who is it for?: Ages 12 years and olderHealthy volunteers can take part
Conditions the study is for: Glaucoma, Vision Disorder
What is being tested?: Virtual Reality Stimulation
Type of treatment: Medical device
Could I receive a placebo?: No, everyone receives an active treatment
How many people: 22 participants
Where: 1 siteUnited States
Study dates: 17 Apr 2018to 7 Sep 2025
Phase: Interventional
Are there results?: Yes, posted in the registrySummary in the doctors' view

Key requirements

Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.

Ages 12 years and older
All sexes
Healthy volunteers accepted
Child, Adult, Older adult

Who may be able to join

For subjects with glaucoma, other retinal diseases, or disorders of the visual system:
1. Patient age > 12 years
2. Compliance with investigator instructions, tests and visit during subject participation in the study.
3. Sufficient fixation ability
4.Best corrected visual acuity of 20/200 or better in at least one eye, or capable to see the visual stimulus at least in one eye.
For healthy volunteers:

Show all 10Show fewer

1. Patient age > 12 years
2. Compliance with investigator instructions, tests and visit during subject participation in the study.
3.Best corrected visual acuity of 20/20 in both eyes.
4. Sufficient fixation ability

Who cannot join

1. Electric or electronic implants (such as cardiac pacemaker)
2. Any metal artifacts in the head or truncus area (with the exception of dental implants)
3. Epilepsy and photo-sensibility; acute auto-immune diseases
4. Acute conjunctivitis
5. Pathological nystagmus

Trial locations and contacts

1 site in 1 country.

United States1 site

Byers Eye Institute at Stanford University
Palo Alto, California, 94303

Other trials in United States

About this study

In certain cases of blindness, such as in Glaucoma, or in certain injuries, the optic nerves behind the retina of our eyes get damaged, leading to partial blindness, mostly near the periphery of our eye. Recent research in Dr.Huberman's laboratory has identified visual stimulation as a non-invasive model for regeneration of such damaged axons in rodents, back to the vision centers of their brain.

Conditions: Glaucoma, Vision Disorder
Being tested: Virtual Reality Stimulation
Medical subject headings: Glaucoma, Vision Disorders

What participants receive

What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.

Virtual Reality StimulationDevice
VR 1 hour sessions will consist of an exposure to a non-invasive visual stimulation where the subject will be sitting wearing a VR headset.

Study groups in NCT07071129
Study group	Role	What they receive
Virtual Reality Stimulation in Patients with Eye Disorders	Experimental	Participants use the VR headset for up to 1 year, followed by 1 year follow-up period. Receives: Device: Virtual Reality Stimulation
Virtual Reality Stimulation in Participants with Normal Vision	Experimental	Participants use the VR headset for up to 1 year, followed by 1 year follow-up period. Receives: Device: Virtual Reality Stimulation

What is being measured

The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.

Change in Visual Field Index (VFI)
VFI (expressed as a percentage) is a global measure of the visual field used to quantify the extent of visual field loss, with 100% representing a normal visual field and 0% indicating complete blindness.
Measured: Baseline, Month 9, Month 24
Change in Mean Deviation Index (MD)
MD is a global measure of the visual field. It is a statistical index that represents the average difference in visual field sensitivity compared to a normal age-matched population. It provides an overall measure of visual field loss in decibels, with more negative values indicating greater loss. Normal vision MD is better than -2dB, with end-stage glaucoma represented by a value of less than -20dB.
Measured: Baseline, Month 9, Month 24

Secondary outcomes (2)

Retinal Layer Thickness Assessed by Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT)
OCT is a non-invasive imaging technique that uses light waves to create detailed, cross-sectional images of the eye, and is used to diagnose and manage various eye conditions.
Measured: baseline and month 9
Change in Best Corrected Visual Acuity
Monocular Best Corrected Distance Visual Acuity in logMAR. Visual acuity of 20/20 = 0.00 on the logMAR scale, higher scores indicate worse vision (20/800 is the equivalent of 1.6 logMAR).
Measured: baseline and month 9

Timeline

From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.

17 Apr 20187 Sep 2025

First posted17 Jul 2025
Study start17 Apr 2018
Primary completion7 Jul 2025
Study completion7 Sep 2025

Why it stopped: Due to Covid pandemic

Resources

Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
Posted resultsParticipant flow, outcome measures and adverse events reported by the sponsor.
Publications (1)Papers the sponsor has linked to this study.
Other trials for GlaucomaStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
More trials run by Stanford UniversityThe sponsor's other registered studies.
What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.

More details

For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.

Study design

Study type: Interventional
Phase: Phase N/A
Primary purpose: Treatment
Allocation: Non-randomised
Intervention model: Single group
Masking: None (open label)
Enrolment: 22 participants (actual)

IDs, dates and publications

ClinicalTrials.gov ID: NCT07071129
Sponsor's protocol ID: 39418
Acronym: VR
Status last verified: Nov 2025
First submitted: 9 Jul 2025
Last updated: 10 Dec 2025
Results posted: Yes, on ClinicalTrials.gov
Data monitoring committee: No
FDA-regulated drug: No
FDA-regulated device: Yes
Individual data sharing: No

Publications

Healzer KJ, Khatib TZ, Beykin G, Wennberg-Smith Z, Nunez M, Huberman AD, Goldberg JL. Virtual reality stimulation for neuroprotection and neuroenhancement of vision in optic neuropathy patients: a prospective clinical trial. BMC Ophthalmol. 2025 Dec 20;26(1):40. doi: 10.1186/s12886-025-04576-w.
PubMed 41422005

Want to know more?

The sponsor has not listed a contact. The official record may have more details.

Talk to your doctor first and take this page with you. Only the study team can confirm whether you can join.

Questions to ask the study team

What is the study trying to find out?
What would I need to do, and how often would I visit?
Could I receive a placebo instead of the treatment?
What are the possible risks and benefits for me?
Will it cost me anything? Are travel or time paid for?
Can I keep seeing my own doctor during the study?
What happens when the study ends?

See locations

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All Glaucoma trials

Study at a glance

From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 10 Dec 2025. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.

Official title: Virtual Reality for Enhancement of Vision
ClinicalTrials.gov ID: NCT07071129
Acronym / sponsor ID: VR / 39418
Conditions: Glaucoma, Vision Disorder
Study type: Interventional
Recruitment status: TerminatedReason stopped: Due to Covid pandemic
Enrolment: 22 participants (actual)
Lead sponsor: Stanford UniversityUniversity, hospital or other
Study start: 17 Apr 2018 (actual)
Primary completion: 7 Jul 2025 (actual)
Study completion: 7 Sep 2025 (actual)
First posted: 17 Jul 2025 (actual)
Results: Posted 10 Dec 2025

Clinical summary

The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.

Study design

Primary purpose: Treatment
Allocation: Non-randomised
Intervention model: Single group
Masking: None (open label)
Number of arms: 2

Arm	Type	Receives
Virtual Reality Stimulation in Patients with Eye Disorders	Experimental	Device: Virtual Reality StimulationParticipants use the VR headset for up to 1 year, followed by 1 year follow-up period.
Virtual Reality Stimulation in Participants with Normal Vision	Experimental	Device: Virtual Reality StimulationParticipants use the VR headset for up to 1 year, followed by 1 year follow-up period.

Who may qualify

Ages: 12 years and older
Sex: All
Healthy volunteers: Accepted
Age groups: Child, Adult, Older adult

Key inclusion criteria (10 listed)

1. Patient age > 12 years
2. Compliance with investigator instructions, tests and visit during subject participation in the study.
3. Sufficient fixation ability
4.Best corrected visual acuity of 20/200 or better in at least one eye, or capable to see the visual stimulus at least in one eye.
1. Patient age > 12 years

Key exclusion criteria (5 listed)

1. Electric or electronic implants (such as cardiac pacemaker)
2. Any metal artifacts in the head or truncus area (with the exception of dental implants)
3. Epilepsy and photo-sensibility; acute auto-immune diseases
4. Acute conjunctivitis
5. Pathological nystagmus

Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.

Interventions

Intervention	Type	Arms
Virtual Reality StimulationVR 1 hour sessions will consist of an exposure to a non-invasive visual stimulation where the subject will be sitting wearing a VR headset.	Device	Virtual Reality Stimulation in Participants with Normal Vision, Virtual Reality Stimulation in Patients with Eye Disorders

Primary outcome

Change in Visual Field Index (VFI)
Time frame: Baseline, Month 9, Month 24
VFI (expressed as a percentage) is a global measure of the visual field used to quantify the extent of visual field loss, with 100% representing a normal visual field and 0% indicating complete blindness.
Change in Mean Deviation Index (MD)
Time frame: Baseline, Month 9, Month 24
MD is a global measure of the visual field. It is a statistical index that represents the average difference in visual field sensitivity compared to a normal age-matched population. It provides an overall measure of visual field loss in decibels, with more negative values indicating greater loss. Normal vision MD is better than -2dB, with end-stage glaucoma represented by a value of less than -20dB.

2 secondary outcomes

Retinal Layer Thickness Assessed by Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT)
Time frame: baseline and month 9
Change in Best Corrected Visual Acuity
Time frame: baseline and month 9

Results and safety

Results posted to the registry on 10 Dec 2025, as reported by the sponsor. Figures are copied from the record, not re-analysed. Full results on ClinicalTrials.gov.

Participant flow

Group	Started	Completed
Virtual Reality Stimulation in Patients with Eye Disorders	22	5
Virtual Reality Stimulation in Participants with Normal Vision	0	0

Primary outcome: Change in Visual Field Index (VFI)

Time frame: Baseline, Month 9, Month 24. Mean (Standard Error). Unit: Percent of visual field

Measure	Virtual Reality Stimulation in Patients with Eye Disorders n = 17
Baseline	55.06 (5.77)
Month 9	57.66 (6.86)
Month 24	73.5 (11.08)

Population analysed: Participants with data at the respective timepoint

Primary outcome: Change in Mean Deviation Index (MD)

Time frame: Baseline, Month 9, Month 24. Mean (Standard Error). Unit: Decibels

Measure	Virtual Reality Stimulation in Patients with Eye Disorders n = 17
Baseline	-14.69 (1.65)
Month 9	-13.33 (2.02)
Month 24	-9.51 (3.17)

Population analysed: Participants with data at the respective timepoint

2 secondary outcomes are reported in the full results.

Adverse events

Time frame: Up to 2 years treatment. Other adverse events reported at 0% frequency or more

Group	Serious adverse events	Other adverse events	Deaths
Virtual Reality Stimulation in Patients with Eye Disorders	0 of 22 (0%)	2 of 22 (9.1%)	0 of 22

Limitations and caveats (from the sponsor): Early termination led to a small number of participants analyzed.

Loading the posted results from ClinicalTrials.gov…

Research links

Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 10 Dec 2025.
Posted resultsParticipant flow, baseline, all outcome measures and adverse events.
Derived from this study: PubMed 41422005Healzer KJ, Khatib TZ, Beykin G, Wennberg-Smith Z, Nunez M, Huberman AD, Goldberg JL. Virtual reality stimulation for neuroprotection and neuroenhancement of vision in optic neuropathy patients: a prospective clinical trial. BMC Ophthalmol. 2025 Dec 20;26(1):40. doi: 10.1186/s12886-025-04576-w.
Individual participant dataSharing planned: No

Related trials for Glaucoma

Recruiting
Implementing AI-based Glaucoma Screening Within Federally Qualified Health Centers
Glaucoma, Ocular Hypertension
Not yet recruiting
AI-Assisted vs Conventional Teleglaucoma Referral
Glaucoma
Recruiting
Brain Stimulation Effects on Orientation and Mobility Skills in Adults With Vision Impairment
Retinitis Pigmentosa (RP), Rod Cone Dystrophy
Recruiting
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Primary Open - Angle Glaucoma (POAG), Ocular Hypertension (OHT)

Referral and contact

AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part. This study is not recruiting at the moment.

Jeffrey L Goldberg, MD, PhD principal investigator

Stanford University

1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.

Questions about this trial

What is this clinical trial studying?

A study testing Virtual Reality Stimulation in people with Glaucoma and Vision Disorder, run by Stanford University at 1 site in United States.

The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.

Who may be eligible to take part?

The sponsor lists 10 inclusion and 5 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.

Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?

The record says: stopped early, as of the sponsor's last update on 10 Dec 2025. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.

Where is the study taking place?

The record lists 1 site in United States. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.

What are the possible benefits and risks?

They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.

Are results available for this study?

Yes. Results are posted in the registry (first posted 10 Dec 2025). A summary is in the For doctors view, and the full results are on ClinicalTrials.gov.

How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?

The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.

What does the primary outcome measure?

Change in Visual Field Index (VFI) (time frame: Baseline, Month 9, Month 24). The study lists 2 primary outcomes in all. It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.

Where can I read the original study information?

On the ClinicalTrials.gov record for NCT07071129, which also lists 1 linked publication.

Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?

No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.

How often is this information updated?

AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 10 Dec 2025.