Guide to Eccentric Viewing Training

1. Prescription by an Low Vision Eye Doctor

  • Eye Checkup: First, you’ll visit a low vision eye doctor who will check your vision. They’ll look at which parts of your vision are blurry or missing and find the areas that are still clear.
  • Finding the Best Spot: The doctor will find the best areas of your retina that still have good vision. These areas are called “preferred retinal loci” (PRL). Think of them as the best parts of your eye that you can still use to see things clearly.
  • Prescription: The doctor will then prescribe eccentric viewing training to help you learn how to use these clearer spots to see better. This prescription is for an occupational therapist to perform the techniques of teaching eccentric viewing training.

2. Training with an Occupational Therapist

  • Meet the Therapist: You’ll work with an occupational therapist who specializes in helping people use their vision better. They will guide you through exercises to practice using your PRL.

What Happens During Training:

Learning to Use PRL:

  • Identify the PRL: The therapist will help you figure out exactly where your PRL is. They might ask you to look at different objects and notice where they appear clearest.
  • Practice Eye Movements: You’ll practice moving your eyes to use your PRL instead of the blurry or missing parts of your vision. This might feel a bit strange at first, but it gets easier with practice.

Exercises and Activities:

  • Reading Practice: You’ll start by reading large, simple text. The therapist will guide you to look slightly above, below, or to the side of the text, using your PRL to read the words.
  • Object Identification: The therapist might show you different objects or pictures and ask you to describe them. You’ll practice looking at these objects with your PRL.
  • Daily Activities: You’ll also practice activities that you do every day, like pouring a glass of water, recognizing faces, or watching TV, using your PRL.

Regular Practice:

  • Homework: The therapist will give you exercises to practice at home. Just like learning to play an instrument or a sport, the more you practice, the better you’ll get.
  • Progress Checks: You’ll have regular check-ins with the therapist to see how you’re doing and adjust the exercises if needed.

Why This Helps

  • Better Vision: By using the parts of your eye that work best, you can see things more clearly and do activities more easily.
  • More Independence: You’ll be able to do more on your own without needing as much help from others.

Example

Imagine you’re reading a book. Normally, you look straight at the words, but now there’s a blurry spot in the middle of your vision. The therapist will teach you to move your eyes slightly so you can use a clearer part of your vision to see the words. At first, you might practice with bigger letters or fewer words on a page. As you get better, you can try reading more complex texts.