OpticalAging: Real-time Presbyopia Simulation for Inclusive Design via Tunable Lenses
Qing Zhang, Zixiong Su, Yoshihito Kondoh, Kazunori Asada, Thad Starner, Kai Kunze, Yuta Itoh, Jun Rekimoto

TL;DR
OpticalAging introduces a real-time, tunable lens-based simulation of presbyopia to improve understanding and inclusive design for age-related vision changes, validated through user studies.
Contribution
This paper presents a novel real-time presbyopia simulation using tunable lenses, bridging the gap between abstract knowledge and perceptual experience for inclusive design.
Findings
Significant change in near points across age modes
Increased self-reported understanding among participants
Potential for integration into age-inclusive design workflows
Abstract
Presbyopia, a common age-related vision condition affecting most people as they age, often remains inadequately understood by those unaffected. To help bridge the gap between abstract accessibility knowledge and a more grounded appreciation of perceptual challenges, this study presents OpticalAging, an optical see-through simulation approach. Unlike VR-based methods, OpticalAging uses dynamically controlled tunable lenses to simulate the first-person visual perspective of presbyopia's distance-dependent blur during real-world interaction, aiming to enhance awareness. While acknowledging critiques regarding simulation's limitations in fully capturing lived experience, we position this tool as a complement to user-centered methods. Our user study (N = 19, 18-35 years old) provides validation: quantitative measurements show statistically significant changes in near points across three age…
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Taxonomy
TopicsAugmented Reality Applications · Interactive and Immersive Displays
