Abstract

Loss of central visual field function seriously disrupts reading performance (Legge et al., 1985; Cummings et al., 1985). Moreover, after magnification to compensate for the acuity loss and even after, prolonged training, reading speed in individuals with such losses rarely approaches that of normally- sighted individuals using central vision. Although it might be argued that subtle peripheral field losses that are undetected in clinical perimetry might limit reading performance, it seems unlikely that such an explanation would, by itself, be sufficient. For example, Turano and Rubin (1988) have noted deficient reading performance in the peripheral retina of those with normal function in both central and peripheral retina. Hence it seems more likely that reading deficits with central visual losses are due to differences in visual capabilities between central and peripheral visual field.

© 1992 Optical Society of America