Optometry and Vision Sciences - Theses

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    The mobility performance of people with Retinitis pigmentosa as a function of residual vision and psychological variables
    Haymes, Sharon Ann ( 1996)
    The purpose of this investigation was to explain the difference in the mobility performance of people who have retinitis pigmentosa (RP). I proposed that while the difference in performance is chiefly explained by differences in the amount of residual vision, psychological variables are also relevant. I measured the mobility performance of a group of eighteen subjects with RP on three real-world courses using Percentage Preferred Walking Speed (PPWS). I investigated the importance of residual vision using clinical measures of visual acuity, contrast sensitivity and residual visual field. In addition, I investigated the importance of psychological variables, such as anxiety, depression, self-esteem, locus of control and intelligence. I found a highly significant correlation between each of the vision variables and mobility performance. However, contrary to expectations derived from reading the literature, I did not find a significant correlation between psychological variables and mobility performance. I obtained the strongest correlation for a new measure of the residual visual field; the RP Concentric Field Rating. I was able to find a clinically useful model that explained 64% of the variance in functional mobility performance. The model incorporates the RP Concentric Field Rating and the Pelli-Robson measure of peak contrast sensitivity.