Modified astigmatism dial diagram for locating eccentric fixation in patients with central scotoma

PURPOSE. Patients with central scotoma often develop eccentric fixation on a preferred retinal locus (PRL). Identifying the PRL is one of the first steps in low vision rehabilitation training. We present our evaluation of a simple test designed to locate the eccentric fixation in eyes with central scotoma. METHODS. This was a prospective case series of consecutive patients with age-related macular degeneration and bilateral central scotoma. A numeral was added in the center of an astigmatism dial diagram. After one eye was patched, patients with central scotoma were asked to fixate the dial and describe it, then to look at the 12 O'clock position, and then around the clock. The eccentricity at which the central numeral was best seen was compared with the one determined by scanning laser ophthalmoscopy (SLO). The modified astigmatism dial test and SLO were done independently by two masked investigators. The results of the two methods were expressed in clock hour positions and were considered to be in agreement when they did not differ by more than one hour. RESULTS. Nine consecutive patients (18 eyes) with severe age-related macular degeneration and bilateral central scotoma were tested. The six women and three men ranged in age from 61 to 86 years (mean 75.8 years). The pattern test correlated with SLO findings in 12 (66%) of the 18 eyes. When considering the best-seeing eye of each patient, results showed agreement in eight (88%) out of nine cases. CONCLUSIONS. The modified astigmatism dial test appears useful for establishing the location of the eccentric fixation in the best-seeing eye of patients with bilateral central scotoma, allowing visual rehabilitation training to be started without delay.