title: Use of multiple preferred retinal loci in Stargardt's disease during natural tasks: a case study.
abstract: Individuals with central visual field loss often use a preferred retinal locus (PRL) to compensate for their deficit. We present a case study examining the eye movements of a subject with Stargardt's disease causing bilateral central scotomas, while performing a set of natural tasks including: making a sandwich; building a model; reaching and grasping; and catching a ball. In general, the subject preferred to use PRLs in the lower left visual field. However, there was considerable variation in the location and extent of the PRLs used. Our results demonstrate that a well-defined PRL is not necessary to adequately perform this set of tasks and that many sites in the peripheral retina may be viable for PRLs, contingent on task and stimulus constraints.
authors.affiliation: Center for Perceptual Systems, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX 78712, USA. brians@mail.utexas.edu
authors.forename: Brian
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Sullivan
authors.forename: Jelena
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Jovancevic-Misic
authors.forename: Mary
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hayhoe
authors.forename: Gwen
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Sterns
mesh_terms: D002138:Calibration; D002755:Choice Behavior / Q000502:physiology*; D005133:Eye Movements / Q000502:physiology*; D005403:Fixation, Ocular / Q000502:physiology*; D005654:Fundus Oculi; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010775:Photic Stimulation; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012160:Retina / Q000503:physiopathology*; D012607:Scotoma / Q000503:physiopathology*; D014741:Video Recording; D014787:Vision Tests; D014794:Visual Fields; D014937:Work / Q000502:physiology