Bowers, AlexandraTant, MarkPeli, Eliezer2013-05-092012Bowers, Alexandra Rae, Mark Tant, and Eliezer Peli. 2012. A pilot evaluation of on-road detection performance by drivers with hemianopia using oblique peripheral prisms. Stroke Research and Treatment 2012:176806.2090-81052042-0056http://nrs.harvard.edu/urn-3:HUL.InstRepos:10613633Aims: Homonymous hemianopia (HH), a severe visual consequence of stroke, causes difficulties in detecting obstacles on the nonseeing (blind) side. We conducted a pilot study to evaluate the effects of oblique peripheral prisms, a novel development in optical treatments for HH, on detection of unexpected hazards when driving. Methods: Twelve people with complete HH (median 49 years, range 29–68) completed road tests with sham oblique prism glasses (SP) and real oblique prism glasses (RP). A masked evaluator rated driving performance along the 25 km routes on busy streets in Ghent, Belgium. Results: The proportion of satisfactory responses to unexpected hazards on the blind side was higher in the RP than the SP drive (80% versus 30%; P = 0.001), but similar for unexpected hazards on the seeing side. Conclusions: These pilot data suggest that oblique peripheral prisms may improve responses of people with HH to blindside hazards when driving and provide the basis for a future, larger-sample clinical trial. Testing responses to unexpected hazards in areas of heavy vehicle and pedestrian traffic appears promising as a real-world outcome measure for future evaluations of HH rehabilitation interventions aimed at improving detection when driving.en-USJournal Article2013-05-0910.1155/2012/176806