People with Hemianopia Report Difficulty with TV, Computer, Cinema Use, and Photography

Abstract

Significance: Our survey found that participants with hemianopia report more difficulties watching video in various formats, including television (TV), on computers, and in a movie theater, compared with participants with normal vision (NV). These reported difficulties were not as marked as those reported by people with central vision loss.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to survey the viewing experience (e.g., frequency, difficulty) of viewing video on TV, computers and portable visual display devices, and at the cinema of people with hemianopia and NV. This information may guide vision rehabilitation.

Methods: We administered a cross-sectional survey to investigate the viewing habits of people with hemianopia (n = 91) or NV (n = 192). The survey, consisting of 22 items, was administered either in person or in a telephone interview. Descriptive statistics are reported.

Results: There were five major differences between the hemianopia and NV groups. Many participants with hemianopia reported (1) at least "some" difficulty watching TV (39/82); (2) at least "some" difficulty watching video on a computer (16/62); (3) never attending the cinema (30/87); (4) at least some difficulty watching movies in the cinema (20/56), among those who did attend the cinema; and (5) never taking photographs (24/80). Some people with hemianopia reported methods that they used to help them watch video, including video playback and head turn.

Conclusions: Although people with hemianopia report more difficulty with viewing video on TV and at the cinema, we are not aware of any rehabilitation methods specifically designed to assist people with hemianopia to watch video. The results of this survey may guide future vision rehabilitation.

Figure 1

Age distribution of participants with hemianopia (HH) and normal vision (NV) in the survey (Study 1).

Figure 2

Some aspects of the video viewing habits survey. Participants with hemianopia (HH) were more likely than participants with normal vision (NV) to report at least ‘some’ difficulty (A) watching television (ordered logistic regression, z=4.71, p<0.0001) and (B) movies in a cinema (ordered logistic regression, z=4.50, p<0.001). (C) Participants with hemianopia were much more likely to never attend the cinema (logistic regression, z=3.56, p<0.001). (D) Many more participants with hemianopia reported never taking photographs (logistic regression, z=4.93, p<0.001).