Biomedical Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
10
The Opto
metrist
M. Orlandi and R. Amantis
CONTENTS
10.1 Introduction ...................................................................................................................... 201
10.2 Vision and the Role of the Optometrist in ATA .......................................................... 202
10.2.1 The Complexity of the Visual Process from Eye to Brain ............................ 202
10.2.2 The Visual Abilities in Behavioral Optometry .............................................. 208
10.2.2.1 Visual Acuity ..................................................................................... 208
10.2.2.2 Fixation ............................................................................................... 211
10.2.2.3 Slow Pursuit ...................................................................................... 212
10.2.2.4 Saccadic Movements......................................................................... 213
10.2.2.5 Binocular Vision................................................................................ 214
10.2.2.6 Convergence ...................................................................................... 214
10.2.2.7 Accommodation ................................................................................ 215
10.2.2.8 Refraction ........................................................................................... 216
10.2.2.9 The Field of Vision ............................................................................ 218
10.2.2.10 Superior Perceptive Abilities........................................................... 219
10.3 The Role of Optometrists in the ATA Process ............................................................. 220
10.4 Evaluation of Visual, Perceptive, and Motor Functions: Clinical Case 1 ................. 222
10.5 Evaluation of Visual, Perceptive, and Motor Functions: Clinical Case 2 ................. 224
10.6 Visual Training ................................................................................................................. 225
10.7 Conclusions ....................................................................................................................... 225
Summary of the Chapter ............................................................................................................ 226
Acknowledgments ...................................................................................................................... 226
References ..................................................................................................................................... 227
Suggested Reading ...................................................................................................................... 227
10.1 Introduction
The choice of the appropriate assistive technology is conditioned by the visual skills
of the subject. Visual perception is a complex process in which various subprocesses
participate and in which various anatomic structures are involved. It is therefore neces-
sary that the assessment protocol used permits having a clear picture of all of the visual
abilities and skills of the patient as well as his/her limits. A detailed analysis of the
visual skills permits the assistive technology assessment (ATA) team to plan specific test
settings to be used with the patient without having to make random attempts, which
usually prove themselves not only to be useless, but also to be frustrating for the patient
and the family.
201
