J. Except. People 2016, 5(1):41-53

Living with retinitis pigmentosa: Visual perceptual difficulties

Helena Chacón-López, M. Dolores López-Justicia
Department of Developmental and Educational Psychology, Faculty of Education, University of Granada (Spain), Campus Universitario de la Cartuja, s/n, C.P. 18071, Granada, Spain

The aim of this study was to determine the state of the visual perception of 26 people with RP and 31 without visual impairment, using the TVPS (Test of Visual Perceptual Skills), as well as to find out the subtests on which those affected by RP have more difficulties and those on which they have less. Another aim of the study was to determine the relationship between Near Visual Acuity (NVA), Visual Field (VF) and visual perceptive performance. The results showed differences in all subtests between both groups. A descriptive analysis showed that those affected by RP have greater difficulty on Form Constancy and on Figure Ground and least on Visual Memory subtests. Significant correlations were found between NVA (Spatial Relations and Figure Ground subtests), VF (Visual Constancy and Figure Ground subtests) and visual perceptive performance. It was concluded that the findings of the study have important implications in planning interventions and in designing training programs for activities of daily life, of movement, recreation and social life, since visual perception affects these activities, and in the technological or computerized development of assistance aimed at improving the use of residual vision.

Keywords: Retinitis Pigmentosa, Visual Perception, Visual Acuity, Near Visual Acuity, Visual Field.

Published: December 11, 2016  Show citation

ACS AIP APA ASA Harvard Chicago Chicago Notes IEEE ISO690 MLA NLM Turabian Vancouver
Chacón-López, H., & Dolores López-Justicia, M. (2016). Living with retinitis pigmentosa: Visual perceptual difficulties. Journal of Exceptional People, 5(8), 41-53
Share...
Download citation
  • BibTeX (.bib)
  • Bookends (.ris)
  • EasyBib (.ris)
  • EndNote (.enw)
  • EndNote 8 (.xml)
  • ISI WoS (.isi)
  • Medlars (.medlars)
  • Mendeley (.ris)
  • MODS (.xml)
  • Papers (.ris)
  • RefWorks (.txt)
  • RefManager (.ris)
  • RIS (.ris)
  • MS Word (.xml)
  • Zotero (.ris)

    • References

    1. ADLER, R. (2002). La búsqueda de tratamiento para las enfermedades retinianas: lecciones derivadas de la biología molecular y del desarrollo. [Investigation for the treatment of retina disorders. Lessons derived from molecular and developmental biology]. Visión, 20, 22-24.
    2. AGUILAR, F. (2005). Razones biológicas de la plasticidad cerebral y la restauración neurológica. [Biological reasons of cerebral plasticity and neurological restoration]. Plasticidad y neurología, 4, 5-6.
    3. BAUER, J. (1996). Disturbed synaptic plasticity and the psychobiology of Alzheimer's disease. Behavioural Brain Research, 78, 1-2. Go to original source...
    4. BROWN, G., RODGER, S., & DAVIS, A. (2003). Test of Visual Perceptual Skills-revised: An overview and critique. Scandinavian Journal of Occupational Therapy 10, 3-15. Go to original source...
    5. CONROD, B., BROSS, M., & WHITE, Ch. (1986). Active and passive perceptual learning in the visually impaired. Journal of Visual Impairment and Blindness, 80, 528-531. Go to original source...
    6. FERNÁNDEZ, E. (2007). Retinosis pigmentaria: Preguntas y respuestas. [Retinitis Pigmentosa: Questions and answers]. Elche: Cátedra Bidons Egara.
    7. FLETCHER, D. & SCHUCHARD, R. (2006). Visual function in patients with Choroidal Neovascularization resulting from Age-Related Macular Degeneration: The importance of looking beyond visual acuity. Optometry and Vision Science, 83, 178-189. Go to original source...
    8. FUHR, P. S. W., LIU, L., & KUYK, T. K. (2007). Relationships between feature search and mobility Performance in persons with severe visual impairment. Optometry and Vision Science, 84, 393-400. Go to original source...
    9. GARDNER, M. (1996). Test of Visual Perceptual Skills-R. Novato, CA: Academic Therapy Publications.
    10. GARDNER, M. (1997). Test of Visual Perceptual Skills, Upper Level-R. Novato, CA: Academic Therapy Publications.
    11. GERUSCHAT, D. & TURANO, K. (2002). Connecting Research on Retinitis Pigmentosa to the Practice of Orientation and Mobility. Journal of Visual Impairment and Blindness, 96, 69-85. Go to original source...
    12. GREER, R. (2004). Evaluation Methods and Functional Implications Children and Adults with Low Vision. In A. Lueck-Hall (Ed.) Functional Vision. A Practitioner's Guide to Evaluation and Intervention ( pp.177-257). New York: AFB.
    13. GROVER, S., FISHMAN, G. A., ANDERSON, R. J., TOZATTI, M. S., HECKENLIVELY, J. R., WELEBER, R. G., EDWARDS, A. O., & BROWN, J. (1999). Visual acuity impairment in patients with retinitis pigmentosa at age 45 years or older. Ophtalmology, 106, 1780-1785. Go to original source...
    14. HAYMES, S., GUEST, D., HEYES, A. & JOHNSTON, A. (1996). Mobility of persons with retinitis pigmentosa as a function of vision and psychological variables. Optometry Vision Science, 73, 621-673. Go to original source...
    15. KELLMAN, P. J. & BANKS, M. T. (1997). Infant visual perception, In W. Damon, D. Kuhn & R. Siegler (Eds.), Handbook of child psychology (5th ed.), vol. 2: Cognition, perception and language (pp. 103-146). New York: Wiley.
    16. KISER, A. & DAGNELIE G. (2008). Reported effects of non-traditional treatments and complementary and alternative medicine by retinitis pigmentosa patients. Clinical and Experimental Optometry, 91, 166-176. Go to original source...
    17. LAITINEN, A., SAINIO, P., KOSKINEN, S., RUDANKO, S., LAATIKAINEN, L., & AROMAA, A. (2007). The Association Between Visual Acuity and Functional Limitations: Findings from a Nationally Representative Population Survey. Ophthalmic Epidemiology, 14, 333-342. Go to original source...
    18. LÓPEZ-JUSTICIA, M. D. & NIETO, I. (2006). Self-concept of Spanish young adults with RP. Journal of Visual Impairment and Blindness, 100, 366-370. Go to original source...
    19. MARTIN, N. (2006). Test of Visual Perceptual Skills (3rd edition). USA: Academic Therapy Publications.
    20. NEMSHICK, L. A., VERNON, McC., & LUDMAN, F. (1986). The impact of retinitis pigmentosa on young adults: Psychological, educational, vocational and social considerations. Journal of Visual Impairment and Blindness, 89, 859-862. Go to original source...
    21. Quillman, R. D., Mehr, E. B., & Goodrich, G. L. (1981). Use of the Frostig Figure-Ground in Evaluation of Adults with Low Vision. American Journal of Optometry, 58, 910-918. Go to original source...
    22. REDOLAT, R. y CARRASCO, M. C. (1998). ¿Es la plasticidad cerebral un factor crítico en el tratamiento de las alteraciones cognitivas asociadas al envejecimiento? [Is cerebral plasticity a critical factor in the treatment of cognitive alterations associated with ageing] Anales de psicología, 14, 45-53.
    23. RUNDQUIST, J. (2004). Low Vision Rehabilitation of Retinitis Pigmentosa. Journal of Visual Impairment and Blindness, 98, 718-724. Go to original source...
    24. SIEGUEL, S. (1991). Estadística no paramétrica aplicada a las ciencias de la conducta. [Non-parametric statistics applied to behavioral sciences]. Mexico: Trillas.
    25. STROUGO, Z., BADOUX, A., ET DUCHANEL, D. (1997). Problèmes psycho-affectifs associés à la rétinopathie pigmentaire. Journal Français D' Ophtalmologie, 1997, 20, 111-116.
    26. TRUDEAU, M., OVERBURY, O., & CONROD, B. (1990). Perceptual training and figure-ground performance in low vision. Journal of Visual Impairment and Blindness, 84, 204-206. Go to original source...
    27. ZEISS, A. M., LEWINSOHN, P. M., ROHDE, P., & SEELEY, J. R. (1996). Relationship of physical disease and functional impairment to depression in older people. Psychology and Aging, 11, 572-581. Go to original source...

    This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License (CC BY-SA 4.0), which permits use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original publication is properly cited. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.


    Return to the content