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Abstract
Purpose: This study was undertaken to identify visual search strategies performed during refixation tasks in four patients with central scotomas. Methods: Eye movements of tested patients were recorded while they alternately fixate a central spot and recognized letters successively projected in various locations. Results: Five oculomotor behavior patterns could be identified:(1)a ‘foveation-defoveation’ strategy, directing the anatomic fovea, then the PRL, close to the target image; (2)a ‘direct refixation’ strategy, orienting the preferred retinal locus (PRL)straight onto the target image; (3)a ‘staircase’ strategy, bringing the PRL by means of short successive saccades progressively closer to the target image; (4)a ‘withdrawal’ strategy, in which the scotoma was directed far away from the target image and then the PRL was brought onto it; and (5)a ‘no-movement’ behavior, in which the subject attempted to decipher the letter from his initial gaze position. Conclusion: Findings suggest that the visuomotor behaviors in the four studied patients were related to a variety of factors, including the location of the target image relative to the scotoma, the spatial characteristics of the defect, and the duration of the disease.