Abstract
Use of a preferred retinal locus (PRL) in patients with central scotomas has been extensively investigated in reading. However, less is know about how consistently a PRL is used in ordinary behavior, where high resolution may not always be needed. We investigated eye movements of a Stargardt's disease patient, with bilateral central scotomas, in three tasks in both real and virtual environments. While making a sandwich, the subject predominantly located the object being manipulated in the lower left visual field, scattered over a 20°×30° region. While catching a ball our subject positioned the ball in the lower left visual quadrant and also exhibited pursuit eye movements driven by the peripheral retina. While walking in a virtual environment, the patient did not use a PRL but instead centered gaze on pedestrians, whose vertical extent surpassed the boundaries of the scotoma. In the natural tasks studied the PRL is very broadly defined and depends on the resolution required for the task. We therefore suggest use of the term “preferred retinal region”.
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
