Improving awareness of peripheral visual field using sectorial prism.

Overview

BACKGROUND: The authors wish to alert optometrists that an increased awareness of peripheral visual field is possible in selected patients with complete homonymous hemianopsia through the use of ground-in sectorial prisms. METHOD: A case series of nine patients prospectively completed activities of daily living (ADL) questionnaires before and after the use of sectorial prism spectacles for the treatment of complete homonymous hemianopsias. RESULTS: Of the nine enrolled patients, seven reported subjective quantitative improvement in ADL scores on questionnaire responses and two patients did not report improvement. CONCLUSION: Patients with homonymous hemianopic visual-field loss may improve their functional vision and activities of daily living through the use of hemianopic prism spectacles. These sectorial prisms--along with proper training--may enhance peripheral awareness through more efficient visual scanning skills.