Improving awareness of peripheral visual field using sectorial prism.
BACKGROUND
The authors wish to alert optometrists that an increased awareness of peripheral visual field is possible in selected patients with complete homonymous hemianopsia through the use of ground-in sectorial prisms.


METHODS
A case series of nine patients prospectively completed activities of daily living (ADL) questionnaires before and after the use of sectorial prism spectacles for the treatment of complete homonymous hemianopsias.


RESULTS
Of the nine enrolled patients, seven reported subjective quantitative improvement in ADL scores on questionnaire responses and two patients did not report improvement.


CONCLUSIONS
Patients with homonymous hemianopic visual-field loss may improve their functional vision and activities of daily living through the use of hemianopic prism spectacles. These sectorial prisms--along with proper training--may enhance peripheral awareness through more efficient visual scanning skills.
Lee
A G
AG
Department of Ophthalmology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA.
Perez
A M
AM
D000221:Adaptation, Ocular; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005139:Eyeglasses; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006423:Hemianopsia / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D055095:Optics and Photonics; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014794:Visual Fields