Eccentric Viewing
Scotoma - Central Blind Spot
If you have been diagnosed with macular degeneration and have done some research, you probably know that what is affected is your central or straight ahead vision, not your peripheral or side vision. The AMD patient experiences a blind or blurry spot in the center of their vision when they look straight ahead. This blind or blurry spot, called a scotoma , is the result of the cone cells dying. These cone cells are located in the fovea, the center of the macula, and are responsible for our sharp and detailed vision.
What is It?This technique helps adults and children maximize their vision through learning to view objects with their peripheral vision.
Eccentric viewing training teaches a person to look slightly to the side so that the blind spot or scotoma is not in their central field of vision. One author describes it as "not looking at what you want to see." It is sometime called preferred retinal locus (PRL) because the person is learning to develop a new or "pseudofovea." With this training the patient must learn to control their eye movement and place the object of interest on a particular location of the retina. The specialist helps people find the peripheral part of the retina where the tissue is healthy and where they can see or focus the best.
This might mean having to look slightly above, below, or to one side of a word to focus on it most clearly. Learning the technique requires dedication and concentration. "You have to re-educate your brain to read differently, and your eyes to look differently," says Richard Elliott.
Where to Find this TrainingEccentric viewing training is usually offered by a low vision rehab specialist. Most people have the best success and less frustration with the help of several sessions. Look in your phone book under "Rehabilitation Services." You can also ask your doctor for a low vision specialist.
Tips for SuccessEven if you are getting training from a low vision rehab specialist, it is important to:1) Practice daily at home 2) Do not move your head, only your eyes 3) Start with looking at objects while sitting down and sitting still 4) To read, instead of moving their eyes across a page, move the page across the spot 5) Several self training exercises are available on the web One author (who did not identify herself) summed up the importance of this technique by saying,"How well you learn Eccentric Viewing will define just how disabling Macular Degeneration will be in your life." Go from Eccentric Viewing to Low Vision
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