The purpose of this study is to evaluate reading performance in the visual periphery by simulating central vision loss using a computer-controlled gaze-contingent display with an eye tracker. Participants will read a page of text at a comfortable rate. Several manipulations hypothesized to improve reading will be tested, such as an inverted-text "spotlight" of a single word that follows the participant's gaze.
Participants will view paragraphs of multiple sentences of text with their central vision blocked computationally with a "simulated scotoma." Participants will be free to move their eyes around the page of text at a comfortable rate. The three outcomes described elsewhere will be evaluated. In different blocks, text will contain one or more of several dynamic assistive manipulations that are hypothesized to enhance reading: 1) inverting the text at a given position, with instructions for the participant to attend to that location, which simulates a "surrogate fovea" of a patient with central vision loss. 2) horizontally expanding text to alleviate within-word crowding. 3) highlighting the next word with a visible indicator to encourage proper eye movements.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
NA
Purpose
OTHER
Masking
NONE
Enrollment
6
In different testing blocks, the efficacy of the different enhancements will be evaluated, such as inverting the text in a gaze-contingent inverted "spotlight."
University of Houston, College of Optometry
Houston, Texas, United States
Reading speed
Average time/word it takes to read a paragraph of text.
Time frame: From enrollment to completion of testing (<2 weeks)
Reading accuracy
Ability to correctly answer comprehension questions or orally read words
Time frame: From enrollment to completion of testing (<2 weeks)
Efficiency of eye movement
Ability to move the eyes systematically from word to word
Time frame: From enrollment to completion of testing (<2 weeks)
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