Measurement of dynamic visual acuity in patients with vestibular areflexia

Abstract

Conclusion: The test is simple and sensitive enough to separate normal subjects from patients suffering from a vestibular loss. There was also a good correlation between the objective results and the subjective complaint of oscillopsia. Objectives: Oscillopsia (i.e. blurred vision while walking) is often reported by patients suffering from vestibular loss. We developed a test to quantify oscillopsia. Methods: Visual acuity was determined in 16 normal subjects and in 8 patients suffering from a bilateral vestibular loss, at rest and while walking at increasing speed on a treadmill. Snellen optotypes were randomly projected on a screen and the visual acuity was determined with an adaptative staircase algorithm. Results: In normal subjects, the visual acuity did not decrease markedly during walking, but decreased significantly in patients with a vestibular loss.

Keywords::

• Vestibular deficient patients
• oscillopsia
• Snellen optotypes
• adptative staircase algorithm
• treadmill

Acknowledgements

We thank Mr S. Armand, engineer of the Laboratory of Kinesiology at the University Hospital of Geneva, for the provision of premises. This paper was presented at the Collegium Academicum ORL Amiticae Sacrum held in Berlin, August 2008.

Declaration of interest: None.