Abstract

There is evidence that some patients with damaged macular vision can improve their visual performance by learning to utilize intact parts of the retina for "eccentric viewing" (Holcomb and Goodrich (1976), Goodrich and Mehr (1986), Carman-Merifield (1990), McMahon, Hansen, Stelmack, Oliver and Viana (1992)). The chance for such improvement varies greatly with the task, e.g. reading, and with the position of the utilized retinal spot relative to the fovea. In order to optimally guide the patient's learning of eccentric viewing, it is necessary to assess residual vision topographically and in a way releveant to practical viewing tasks. We have developed a computerized test that focusses on finding the best "candidate spot(s)" for eccentric viewing, rather than on mapping scotomata. The test is non-invasive, easy to administer and yields results within minutes.

© 1993 Optical Society of America