[Adaptation to central scotoma. Part II. Perceptual filling-in phenomenon].
The visual cortex may reorganize after occurrence of a scotoma. Different experimental studies have shown that there is an attempt to minimize the impact of the scotoma, the missing information being filled-in by surrounding information. The clinical consequences of this filling-in phenomenon have been extensively studied by Safran and co-workers. The present review summarizes the current literature on this phenomenon and its clinical consequences. Furthermore, the authors present their own experience with the filling-in phenomenon in patients with age-related macular degeneration. Their study shows that, with few exceptions, the phenomenon only occurs in patients with bilateral central scotoma, in their better eye.
Cohen
S Y
SY
Centre d'Imagerie et de Laser, Paris. sycohen@club-internet.fr
Legargasson
J-F
JF
D000222:Adaptation, Physiological; D006801:Humans; D008268:Macular Degeneration / Q000503:physiopathology; D010466:Perceptual Closure; D012607:Scotoma / Q000503:physiopathology*