Rehabilitation Strategies Used to Ameliorate the Impact of Centre Field Loss

Abstract

It has been shown that loss of macular vision has an impact upon a person's ability to read normal-size print and perform daily living tasks. The aim of this study was to report the results of a random control trial of eccentric viewing and magnification interventions on the performance of activities of daily living, including a clinical evaluation of client perceptions. A random control design was used to compare the impact of three interventions (eccentric viewing, magnification, and combined intervention) upon near print size and the performance of daily living tasks. Data were analysed using one-way analysis of variance. Results of the random control study in relation to the dependent variables of near print size and performance of activities of daily living demonstrated that intervention significantly improved performance. Eccentric viewing intervention demonstrated greater improvement in dynamic activities such as shopping, whilst magnification intervention demonstrated the greatest improvement in high-acuity activities such as coin identification. Both types of intervention generally improve the performance of activities of daily living; however, each is suited to different types of activity. Participants who had not received intervention showed no improvement in near print size or performance of activities of daily living. Participants who had received training in eccentric viewing perceived that the technique had assisted performance of daily living tasks.