Developing a visuo-motor training strategy for reading via eccentric viewing

Age-related macular degeneration results in central loss of vision. Sufferers learn to use regions of the retina spared from damage, in a training technique known as eccentric viewing. Some individuals learn this very quickly, but many do not master it. In this project we seek to develop a more effective training strategy, using normal participants with ‘simulated’ vision loss (using eye-tracking and computer-displays). We will exploit the natural link between eye and hand movements by coupling a reading task with a pointing task. We predict that eccentric viewing will be achieved faster when reading is coupled with pointing.