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Biomedical subjects

G L Goodrich

Publications and source records attributed to G L Goodrich.

7 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1986

Eccentric viewing training and low vision aids: current practice and implications of peripheral retinal research.

Macular degeneration results in more new cases of legal blindness in the United States than any other disease and accounts for over 165,000 first visits to physicians each year. Magnification, illumination control, and eccentric viewing training are the only documented, effective vision rehabilitation techniques known. Magnification has been used for decades, control of illumination has had a known effect for many years, and eccentric viewing training has been systematically used for less than 10 years. These techniques, although having demonstrated efficacy, require extensive individual patient training and a considerable investment of professional training time for optimum results. More recently developed techniques use prism correction for near and distance viewing or scanning laser ophthalmoscopy for training. Current knowledge of peripheral retinal function offers new avenues of research to improve upon current rehabilitation techniques. Computer technology also offers the hope of developing easily used, cost-effective materials and equipment to train the patient to use the peripheral retina in place of the damaged/diseased macula. In this paper, we examine current and emerging rehabilitation techniques and highlight some areas of research that hold promise of improving rehabilitation practices for patients having central visual field losses.

Audiovisual Aids↗
PubMed1983

An evaluation of night vision mobility aids.

Two night vision aids are commercially available to help individuals who have diseases that cause night blindness. The ITT Night Vision Aid (NVA) is a light amplification device; the Wide Angle Mobility Light (WAML) is a wide beam flashlight. The effectiveness of both instruments in helping night-blind, field-restricted subjects to walk a course of residential streets at night was tested. WAML users were also surveyed to determine the usage, applications, and reliability of the device. We found that the WAML significantly reduced error rates and was preferred by most subjects; it was reported to be used regularly by individuals who owned it. The NVA did not significantly improve error scores, and was not effective as an ambulatory night mobility aid for most patients.

Adult↗
PubMed1980

Parameters in the use of CCTV's and optical aids.

Data from 96 veterans who had been using a closed circuit television (CCTV) for at least 2 years are presented. Most patients (87%) reported continuing use of the CCTV and demonstrated their proficiency in its use. Fifty percent of all patients used an optical aid, as well as a CCTV for near work. These patients did not differ on mean reading speeds for either type of aid, but the CCTV did provide significantly longer reading durations. Neither near nor far visual acuity measures were correlated with performance variables. Linear magnification, working distance, and effective magnification on the CCTV appeared to interact to influence CCTV reading speed. The data have clear implications for clinical practice.

Audiovisual Aids↗
PubMed1977

Training and practice effects in performance with low-vision aids: a preliminary study.

Reading speed and duration were measured for 24 low vision subjects, 12 learning to use closed circuit television and 12 learning to use optical aids. Reading speed and duration increased for both groups during 10 days of training and practice. Improvement occurred by steplike increases and plateaus. Visual acuity was not correlated with either performance measure; reading speed on the initial day of training was correlated with reading speed on the last day. The results have implications for both the prescription of aids and the training of low-vision patients.

Adult↗
PubMed1976

A preliminary report on experienced closed-circuit television users.

In an attempt to describe the use and usefulness of closed-circuit televisions (C.C.T.V), a preliminary follow-up study of 27 veterans was undertaken by the Western Blind Rehabilitation Center. The veterans had been loaned C.C.T.V.'s by the Veterans Administration and represented a wide range of ages, backgrounds, and pathologies. On the basis of the present data, it is concluded that C.C.T.V. significantly improve the functioning of the majority of users and that this improvement appears to be a long-term benefit.

Adult↗
PubMed1976

Eccentric viewing training.

Eccentric viewing training seeks to train subjects to utilize a paramacular area of the retina for seeing when the macular area is damaged. The present paper demonstrates two techniques for training eccentric viewing, as well as a method for measuring impovement in the use of the paramacular area. Both techniques are inexpensive, can be administered by a technician, and do not require an extensive training period. However, there are indications the two techniques are not comparable in effectiveness.

Adult↗