Macular Mapping Test

Project A

Manfred MacKeben, Ph.D.

The size and extent of still intact areas of the retina in maculopathies vary from patient to patient. Hence, an individual assessment of each patient's remaining vision is necessary for successful rehabilitation. This assessment can be done by our...

"MMTest"

To see one trial, click on the arrow.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION

Source: The test was developed by Manfred MacKeben, Ph.D. and August Colenbrander, M.D., with programming by Aleksandr Gofen.

Purpose: MMTest gives the eye care specialist a tool to assess residual vision in patients with macular vision loss. The goal is to find intact areas of the retina that can be used for eccentric viewing.

Implementation: The test consists of custom software that can be run on IBM PCs and compatible computers under any version of Windows and requires no hardware modifications. MMTest has been used on hundreds of subjects, many of them patients with central field loss. The average test duration was 184 ± 43 seconds (just above 3 minutes). It has also been beta-tested in the offices and laboratories of 8 low vision specialists on three continents.

Advantages: MMTest is fast, inexpensive, and can be run by anyone with minimal computer skills. It builds and maintains a data base that allows immediate access to all past and present data. Results can be printed out in 3 different formats and can be sent by email to other MMTest installations. Besides the gain of information for the eye care specialist, MMTest is a valuable teaching tool for those patients whose rehabilitative progress is held back by reduced scotoma awareness.

Click here for a demonstration.

For more information, contact:
Manfred MacKeben, Ph.D.
email: mm@ski.org
phone: +415 / 345-2112
fax: +415 / 345-8455

References
MacKeben, M., Colenbrander, A. (1993) The assessment of residual vision in patients with maculopathies. Non-invasive Assessment of the Visual System, Tech. Digest, Vol. 3, NMB3: 274-277.

MacKeben, M. and Colenbrander, A.. (1994) "Mapping the topography of residual vision after macular vision loss." In: Low Vision--Research and New Developments in Rehabilitation, Kooijman AC et al. (Eds.), IOS Press, Amsterdam, pp. 59-67.

MacKeben, M., Colenbrander, A. and Schainholz,D. (1994) "Comparison of Three Ways to Assess Residual Vision after Macular Vision Loss." In: Low Vision - Research and New Developments in Rehabilitation, Kooijman AC et al. (Eds.), IOS Press, Amsterdam, pp. 51-58.

MacKeben, M. and Colenbrander, A. (1996) Quick assessment of the topography of macular vision loss using a new PC-based field analyzer. Proc. of the Int'l Low Vision Conference, O.N.C.E., Madrid.

Gofen, A. and MacKeben, M. (1997) An introduction to accurate display timing for PCs under 'Windows'. Spatial Vision 10, No. 4, 361-368.

MacKeben, M., Colenbrander, A. and Gofen,A. (1999) Use you PC to quickly map remaining vision after foveal vision loss. Perimetry Update 1998/1999 (M.Wall & J.M.Wild, eds.), Kugler Publications, The Hague, Netherlands.

This development has been supported by Prevent Blindness Northern California, The Pacific Vision Foundation, the National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research, and the Smith-Kettlewell Eye Research Institute.

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