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Hemianopia leads to difficulty viewing video
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Patients with hemianopia are much less likely to watch movies in a theatre and take photographs, according to researchers.
Costela and colleagues administered a cross-sectional survey to determine the viewing habits of 91 people with hemianopia and 192 participants with normal vision. The survey addressed television viewing habits, portable devices, computer use, going to the movies and photography habits.
For television viewing, participants with hemianopia reported difficulties not seeing things of interest on the blind side and difficulty with specific viewing situations, such as following a ball or other fast action. Following scrolling text was another challenge.
Those with hemianopia also reported the use of a special strategy, assistive device or visual aid while watching television. Other strategies included compensatory scanning, glasses specifically for television, closing one eye, tilting the head to the side, sitting to one side and using closed captioning, according to the study.
Participants with hemianopia (26%) were more likely to report having difficulty with details on a computer screen than those with normal vision (7%).
A total of 34% of those with hemianopia were more likely to report never going to the movies than those with normal vision at 19%.
Never taking photographs was common in 24 of 80 participants with hemianopia.
Common complaints were not understanding the technology, problems locating the target with the camera and issues related to lighting or focusing.
The researchers suggest that based on estimated numbers, between 280,000 and 560,000 people with hemianopia in the U.S. have difficulty watching television.
“These changes in behavior and difficulties with activities of daily living are related to a reduction in quality of life, which may not be captured by various instruments,” the researchers wrote. – by Abigail Sutton
Disclosures: The researchers report no relevant financial disclosures.
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