Spatial Representation in Blind Children. 3: Effects of Individual Differences

1981 ◽  
Vol 75 (2) ◽  
pp. 46-49 ◽  
Author(s):  
Janet F. Fletcher

Theories of spatial representation in blind people have focused on the type of representation of which they, as a group, are capable. This approach overlooks an important issue, namely, the differences among individual blind people and the effects that these differences have on the way spatial information is represented. Data from another article by the author on the same study of spatial representation in blind children were subjected to two step-wise regression analyses to determine the relationships between several subject-related variables and responses to “map” (cognitive map) and “route” (sequential memory) questions about the position of furniture in a recently explored room. The independent variables accounted for 70 percent of the variance on map questions but only 46 percent of the variance on route questions. On map questions, general intellectual ability correlated positively with performance (p < .01), children with visual acuity better than light perception in the first 3 years of life performed better than those with less early vision (p < .05), and children who became blind from retrolental fibroplasia performed more poorly than those whose blindness was due to other causes (p < .05). Fewer independent variables contributed to the variance in performance on route questions. Again children with visual acuity better than light perception in their first 3 years performed better than those with less early vision.

2022 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. Barrett Paulk ◽  
Dala Eloubeidi ◽  
John O. Mason III ◽  
Christine A. Curcio ◽  
Jason N. Crosson ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Patients presenting with macula-off rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RRD) with concomitant age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and their treating physicians would benefit from knowledge regarding the visual prognosis after repair. The prognosis for such patients is not well known. The purpose of this study is to compare visual outcomes in macula-off RRD in eyes with AMD versus a group of comparison eyes without AMD. Methods This was a retrospective chart review of 1,149 patients. A total of 191 eyes met study criteria, 162 non-AMD eyes (controls) and 29 AMD eyes. The main outcome measure was postoperative visual acuity in control eyes versus AMD eyes, and this was compared using Fisher’s exact test. Results There was a statistically significant difference in postoperative visual acuity by AMD status, with those without AMD having a higher frequency of Count Fingers (CF), Hand Motion (HM), Light Perception (LP), or No Light Perception (NLP) vision (p = 0.023). More specifically 5.56% of non-AMD eyes and 3.45% of AMD eyes were 20/40 or better, 77.16% of non-AMD and 55.17% of AMD eyes were worse than 20/40 and better than 20/200, 10.49% of non-AMD eyes and 37.93% of AMD eyes were 20/200 or worse, and there were 11 eyes in the non-AMD group with CF, HM, LP, or NLP vision while there was only 1 eye in the AMD group with CF vision. Conclusions Though postoperative visual acuity was worse in the non-AMD group with a higher frequency of patients having final vision of CF, HM, LP, or NLP, this is not likely a clinically significant finding. Rather, it is a function of the difference in sample size and composition between the two groups. Importantly, this study suggests AMD patients can expect similar outcomes to non-AMD patients after RRD repair. Our study suggests that approximately 58% of patients with AMD can expect to maintain functional vision better than 20/200. We conclude that AMD patients can achieve functional vision after RRD surgery, similar to those without AMD. These findings may be helpful in guiding realistic expectations of AMD patients with RRD.


1980 ◽  
Vol 74 (10) ◽  
pp. 381-385 ◽  
Author(s):  
Janet F. Fletcher

Studies of the development of spatial representation have led to blind children being characterized as deficient, inefficient, or different when compared to sighted children. The study described in this article involved 68 blind and blindfolded sighted students who explored a real or model room, either freely or guided along a predetermined route. The subjects then were questioned about the position of furniture in the room. Some questions could be answered from memory of the route traversed; others required the formation of a cognitive map for their solution. Data were analyzed in terms of the proportion of each type of question correctly answered by each age group. As a group, sighted students performed better than blind students. However, some blind students performed as well as the sighted students. The results of the study show the deficiency theory to be untenable, but do not provide conclusive support for either the inefficiency or difference theories.


Author(s):  
Luis Filipe Nakayama ◽  
Vinicius Campos Bergamo ◽  
Nilva Simeren Bueno de Moraes

Abstract Background To evaluate the epidemiology of endophthalmitis cases related to ocular trauma, including visual acuity during and 1 year after trauma, source of trauma and method of treatment. Methods A retrospective study analyzed the epidemiological data of patients with a clinical presentation of endophthalmitis after ocular penetrating trauma between January 2012 and January 2017 at Escola Paulista de Medicina/UNIFESP, a hospital in São Paulo, SP, Brazil. Results A total of 453 patients with antecedent open globe trauma were evaluated, among these, 30 patients with suspected endophthalmitis. All patients were male. The time interval between trauma and ophthalmological evaluation and collection of vitreous and aqueous material was 1 day in 36.66%, 2–7 days in 43.44%, 7–14 days in 10% and more than 15 days in 10% of patients; 66.66% had positive cultures. 11 patients had intraocular foreign body. One year after trauma, visual acuity was classified as no light perception (NLP) in 33.33%, light perception in 6.66%, hand motion in 13.33%, counting fingers in 13.33%, and better than 20/400 in 20% of patients. Considering presence of intraocular foreign body, initial visual acuity and symptoms onset time, only initial visual acuity showed as better prognostic factor in final visual acuity. Conclusion Endophthalmitis is a severe ocular inflammatory condition that may lead to irreversible vision loss. Initially only one patient had visual acuity of NLP, but after 1 year, 33% showed visual acuity of NLP, and only 20% had visual acuity better than 20/400, what is consistent with a severe infection with a guarded prognosis. The high incidence of endophthalmitis after ocular penetrant trauma justifies distinct treatment and greater attention.


2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Kuan-Jen Chen ◽  
Ying-Jiun Chong ◽  
Ming-Hui Sun ◽  
Hung-Chi Chen ◽  
Laura Liu ◽  
...  

AbstractStreptococcus pneumoniae endophthalmitis is clinically more severe, more difficult to treat, and carry a higher risk of vision loss, evisceration, or enucleation. This study is to investigate the clinical settings, antibiotic susceptibility, and visual outcomes of S. pneumoniae endophthalmitis at a tertiary referral center in Taiwan. S. pneumoniae endophthalmitis was diagnosed in 38 eyes of 38 patients. The main clinical features were postcataract endophthalmitis (n = 13, 34%) and endophthalmitis associated with corneal ulcer (n = 12, 32%), trauma (n = 6, 16%), endogenous etiology (n = 4, 11%), trabeculectomy (n = 2, 5%), and pterygium excision-related scleral ulcer (n = 1, 3%). Presenting visual acuity ranged from counting fingers to no light perception. Pars plana vitrectomy with intravitreal antibiotics was performed in 17 eyes (39%) in primary or secondary treatments. S. pneumoniae isolates were susceptible to vancomycin (38/38, 100%), penicillin (37/38, 97%), ceftriaxone (37/38, 97%), cefuroxime (12/15, 80%), levofloxacin (13/15 ,87%), and moxifloxacin (15/17, 88%). Final visual acuity was better than 20/400 in 3 of 38 eyes (8%), 5/200 to hand motions in 3 eyes (8%), and light perception to no light perception in 32 eyes (84%). Ten eyes (26%) underwent evisceration or enucleation. Although S. pneumoniae isolates were susceptible to vancomycin, S. pneumoniae endophthalmitis had a very poor visual prognosis.


2020 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Hong Zhuang ◽  
Xinyi Ding ◽  
Ting Zhang ◽  
Qing Chang ◽  
Gezhi Xu

Abstract Background To evaluate the effect and prognostic factors of vitrectomy combined with intravitreal antifungal therapy for posttraumatic fungal endophthalmitis in Eastern China. Methods We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of patients who developed fungal endophthalmitis after penetrating ocular trauma at an ophthalmic center in Eastern China. All patients underwent vitrectomy and intravitreal injection of antifungal drugs. Results Thirty-five patients (35 eyes) were included. Twelve eyes suffered plant trauma, 17 eyes metal trauma, and 6 eyes other trauma. The culture results for all 35 eyes showed filamentous fungi, including Aspergillus in 26 eyes (74.3%). Twenty-three eyes underwent vitrectomy once and 12 eyes were treated twice. Four eyes were iridectomized because of a fungal lesion behind the iris. Fungal endophthalmitis was effectively controlled in 33 eyes (94.3%), whereas 2 eyes were ultimately enucleated. Visual acuity was significantly better after treatment than before treatment (P = 0.0006). According to the preoperative vision, the affected eyes were divided into two groups: group 1A (light perception) and group 1B (better than light perception). The final visual acuity in group 1B was significantly better than that in group 1A (P = 0.0289). Conclusions Vitrectomy combined with intravitreal antifungal therapy is an effective treatment for posttraumatic fungal endophthalmitis. Preoperative visual acuity is a significant factor affecting the prognosis of visual acuity.


1988 ◽  
Vol 53 (3) ◽  
pp. 316-327 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alan G. Kamhi ◽  
Hugh W. Catts ◽  
Daria Mauer ◽  
Kenn Apel ◽  
Betholyn F. Gentry

In the present study, we further examined (see Kamhi & Catts, 1986) the phonological processing abilities of language-impaired (LI) and reading-impaired (RI) children. We also evaluated these children's ability to process spatial information. Subjects were 10 LI, 10 RI, and 10 normal children between the ages of 6:8 and 8:10 years. Each subject was administered eight tasks: four word repetition tasks (monosyllabic, monosyllabic presented in noise, three-item, and multisyllabic), rapid naming, syllable segmentation, paper folding, and form completion. The normal children performed significantly better than both the LI and RI children on all but two tasks: syllable segmentation and repeating words presented in noise. The LI and RI children performed comparably on every task with the exception of the multisyllabic word repetition task. These findings were consistent with those from our previous study (Kamhi & Catts, 1986). The similarities and differences between LI and RI children are discussed.


2018 ◽  
Vol 44 (1) ◽  
pp. 4
Author(s):  
Amanda N Shinta ◽  
Purjanto Tepo Utomo ◽  
Agus Supartoto

Purpose : The aim of this study is to report a case of intraorbital wooden foreign body with intracranial extension to the frontal lobe and its management. Method : This is a descriptive study: A 53 year-old male referred due to wooden stick stucked in the orbital cavity causing protruding eyeball and vital sign instability. Result : Right eye examination revealed light perception visual acuity, with bad light projection and bad color perception, inwardly folded upper eyelid, proptosis, conjunctival chemosis, corneal erosion and edema, dilated pupil with sluggish pupillary light reflex and limited ocular movement in all direction. Vital sign was unstable with decreasing blood pressure, increasing temperature and heart rate. CT Scan showed complete fracture of the orbital roof due to penetration of the wooden stick, pneumoencephalus, cerebral edema and hematoma. Emergency craniotomy was performed to remove the penetrating wooden stick and bone segment in the frontal lobe and fracture repair. Ophthalmologist pulled the remaining stick, released the superior rectus muscle and repaired the lacerated eyelid. Outcome visual acuity was no light perception with lagophthalmos and limited ocular motility. Patient was admitted to Intensive Care Unit one day post-operatively and treated with systemic and topical antibiotic. Conclusion : Any case presenting with intraorbital foreign body must undergo immediate neuroimaging to exclude any intracranial extension, especially in patients with worsening general condition.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xin Wen ◽  
Miner Yuan ◽  
Cheng Li ◽  
Chongde Long ◽  
Zhaohui Yuan ◽  
...  

Purpose: To investigate the possible risk factors and prognosis of initial no light perception (NLP) in pediatric open globe injuries (POGI). Procedures: This retrospective, comparative, interventional case-control study included 865 eyes of POGI patients presenting to a tertiary referral ophthalmic center from 1 January 2011 to 31 December 2015. Eyes were divided into two groups: NLP group included eyes with initial NLP, and light perception(LP) group included eyes with initial LP or vision better than LP. Results: The following risk factors were significantly related to initial NLP: severe intraocular hemorrhage (OR=3.287, p=0.015), retinal detachment (RD) (OR=2.527, p=0.007), choroidal damage (OR=2.680, p=0.016) and endophthalmitis (OR=4.221, p<0.001). Choroidal damage is related to remaining NLP after vitreoretinal surgery (OR=12.384, p=0.003). At the last visit, more eyes in the NLP group suffered from silicone oil–sustained status (OR=0.266, p=0.020) or ocular atrophy (OR=0.640, p=0.004), and less eyes benefitted from final LP (OR=41.061, p<0.001) and anatomic success (OR=4.515, p<0.001). Conclusion: Severe intraocular hemorrhage, RD, choroidal damage and endophthalmitis occurred more often in POGI with initial NLP. Choroidal damage was the major factor related to an NLP prognosis. Traumatized eyes with initial NLP could be anatomically and functionally preserved by vitreoretinal surgery.


2018 ◽  
Vol 120 (5) ◽  
pp. 2453-2465 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mintao Zhao

Studies of human and rodent navigation often reveal a remarkable cross-species similarity between the cognitive and neural mechanisms of navigation. Such cross-species resemblance often overshadows some critical differences between how humans and nonhuman animals navigate. In this review, I propose that a navigation system requires both a storage system (i.e., representing spatial information) and a positioning system (i.e., sensing spatial information) to operate. I then argue that the way humans represent spatial information is different from that inferred from the cellular activity observed during rodent navigation. Such difference spans the whole hierarchy of spatial representation, from representing the structure of an environment to the representation of subregions of an environment, routes and paths, and the distance and direction relative to a goal location. These cross-species inconsistencies suggest that what we learn from rodent navigation does not always transfer to human navigation. Finally, I argue for closing the loop for the dominant, unidirectional animal-to-human approach in navigation research so that insights from behavioral studies of human navigation may also flow back to shed light on the cellular mechanisms of navigation for both humans and other mammals (i.e., a human-to-animal approach).


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Da young Shin ◽  
Ho Sik Hwang ◽  
Hyun Seung Kim ◽  
Man Soo Kim ◽  
Eun Chul Kim

Abstract Background: To analyze and compare the clinical results of toric intraocular lens (IOL) and monofocal IOL implantation when the target refraction value is determined -3 diopter (D) in cataract patients with corneal astigmatism >1.5 diopters (D).Methods: We performed a retrospective chart review for patients with corneal astigmatism >1.5D who underwent cataract surgery and their target refraction is determined -3D. 100 eyes (100 patients; monofocal IOL, 60; toric IOL, 40) were enrolled in the current study. Near and distant uncorrected visual acuity (UCVA), corrected VA, spherical equivalent and refractive, corneal astigmatism were evaluated before and after surgery.Results: The near UCVA of the toric IOL group (0.26±0.33) after cataract surgery was significantly better than that of the monofocal IOL group (0.48±0.32) (p=0.030). The distant UCVA of the toric IOL group (0.38 ± 0.14) was also significantly better than that of the monofocal IOL group (0.55 ± 0.22) (p = 0.026). There were no significant intergroup differences in postoperative best-corrected visual acuity (p = 0.710) and mean spherical equivalent (p = 0.465). In the toric IOL group, postoperative refractive astigmatism was -0.80 ± 0.46D and postoperative corneal astigmatism was -1.50 ± 0.62D, whereas the corresponding values in the monofocal IOL group were -1.65 ± 0.77D and -1.45 ± 0.64D; residual refractive astigmatism was significantly lower with toric IOL implantation compared with monofocal IOL implantation (p = 0.001). Conclusions: When myopic refraction such as -3D was determined as the target power in patients with corneal astigmatism, toric IOL implantation led to excellent improvement in both near and distant UCVA.


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