Screen-based Visual Impairment Simulation: An Exploratory Investigation of Acuity Loss Simulation Using Gaussian Blur Filters

Purpose Accessible and scalable tools for simulating visual impairment are essential for studying accessibility and human-computer interaction under visual constraints. This study assessed whether Gaussian blur applied to electronic displays can serve as a valid and practical alternative to traditional simulation spectacles for inducing visual acuity loss. Method Thirty-seven participants completed and compared standard visual-acuity assessments using ETDRS charts and a screen-based tumbling-E test displayed on monitors with three pixel densities (94, 170, and 218 PPI). Tests were conducted under normal vision, moderate impairment, and severe impairment induced by simulation spectacles. Participants then performed 29 screen-based tumbling-E tests incorporating varying Gaussian-blur standard deviations (σ) to discover the relationship between σ and measured visual acuity loss. Results Gaussian blur strength exhibited a strong log-linear relationship with measured visual-acuity loss, with minimal influence from monitor pixel density. A pooled regression model explained over 90% of the variance in visual acuity and accurately predicted impairment levels across display types at different σ. Conclusion Screen-based Gaussian blur offers a valid and reproducible method for simulating visual acuity loss. The derived regression model enables estimation of the blur level (σ) corresponding to specific degrees of impairment, facilitating consistent and controllable simulation across studies. Translational Relevance This approach supports remote experimentation and low-cost accessibility testing, providing researchers and designers with a scalable tool to investigate perceptual and attentional processes under degraded visual conditions.