Projects

Mechanisms of Photophobia in Mild Traumatic Brain Injury in Human Subjects: Therapeutic Implications

The purpose of this grant is to identify the mechanisms responsible for generating photophobia in patients who have suffered mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI). Currently, estimates indicate that this painful condition persists in about 60% of those who suffered from blast-related traumatic brain injury and 30% of those who suffered non-blast-related concussive injuries.

Micro-Perimetry by Scanning Laser Ophthalmoscope

We developed software to make the retinal placement of stimuli during micro-perimetry by a scanning laser ophthalmoscope (SLO) independent of involuntary fixational eye movements. This greatly increases the accuracy of the measurement and enhances the ability to reliably repeat a measurement on the same patient, as well as making comparisons between patients.

 

Reference

MacKeben M & Gofen A. (2007) Gaze-contingent display for retinal function testing by scanning laser ophthalmoscope. J Opt Soc America A, vol. 24/5, May, pp. 1402-1410 (feature issue on “Retinal Imaging”)

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Mobility and Fall Risk in Central Visual Field Loss

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is the most common cause of vision loss in the developed world. Central visual field loss due to diseases such as AMD is a large and growing problem. It is also associated with higher risk of falls and, therefore injury. Although much has been done to understand visual limitations associated with this condition, one of its most dangerous and poorly understood outcomes is the increase in the risk of falls, which can be debilitating and even deadly, especially in the age group most affected by AMD. The exact reasons for the increased fall risk are unknown…

Motion as a Cue for Attention

We investigated whether relative motion can serve as a cue for sustained attention. We found that relative motion perception has a long latency and that it can indeed attract attention to improve discrimination performance.

 

Reference

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Poggel DA, Strasburger H, MacKeben M. (2007) Cueing attention by relative motion in the periphery of the visual field. Perception 36(7) 955 - 970. (pubmed)

Motion Perception in Central Field Loss

The project investigates motion perception in individuals with vision loss due to central retinal lesion, but who retain healthy peripheral retina. Healthy peripheral retina is exquisitely sensitive to fast speeds, however, there is limited and conflicting information about motion processing in residual peripheral retina in patients with central field loss, often due to macular degeneration. We use psychophysical and eye tracking approaches to systematically probe speed and direction sensitivity in this  population. 

My Vision on Vision

These short chapters summarize insights that I have gained from more than four decades working in vision rehabilitation. They provide a broader perspective that may be missing in our daily routines, when focused on specific details. Vision involves much more than visual acuity alone. Vision serves our understanding of the environment and our ability to interact with it. To improve all aspects of that interaction is the mission of Vision Rehabilitation.