Increased Role of Peripheral Vision in Self-Induced Motion for Patients with Age-Related Macular Degeneration
Luminita Tarita-Nistor 1,
Esther G Gonzalez 1,
Samuel N Markowitz 2,
Linda Lillakas 1,
and
Martin J. Steinbach 3*
1 Vision Science Research Program, Toronto Western Hospital, Toronto, Canada; Centre for Vision Research, York University, Toronto, Canada
2 Ophthalmology and Vision Sciences, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
3 Toronto Western Hospital, Director, Vision Science Research Program, Toronto, Canada; Centre for Vision Research, York Univeristy, Toronto, Canada; Ophthalmology and Vision Sciences, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
* To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: mjs{at}yorku.ca.
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Abstract |
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Purpose. The contribution of peripheral vision in inducing self-motion (vection) was investigated in people with bilateral age-related macular degeneration (AMD).
Method. Eleven patients with bilateral AMD and dense central scotomas with no islands of functional central retina, and 12 age-matched controls, were exposed to random dot patterns projected on a large screen. The dots either moved from left to right inducing linear vection, or rotated about the roll axis inducing roll vection. Latency, total vection time, and objective and subjective measures of tilt were recorded.
Results. Patients with AMD experienced shorter latencies than age-matched control participants, but the total vection time in both conditions and tilt during roll vection were the same for both groups. There was a positive correlation between objective tilt and subjective measures of tilt in the AMD but not in the age-matched control group. There was a negative relationship between absolute scotoma size and latency.
Conclusion. Two main conclusions are drawn. First, the role of the peripheral vision in inducing vection is enhanced in people with bilateral central vision loss. Second, people with bilateral AMD adapt successfully to a moving environment (they do not experience vection longer, nor do they tilt more) and are more aware of their postural position than age-matched controls.
Key Words:
age-related macular degeneration, self-induced motion, vection, peripheral vision, central vision
