| Scotoma can be caused by many factors, such | | | | one's independence can be affected by this retinal |
| as macular degeneration, strokes, traumatic brain | | | | disease. |
| injuries and disorders, which affect the retina or | | | | Most people suffering from central scotoma have |
| optic nerve. The most common form of blind | | | | to use their peripheral vision during most tasks. |
| spot is central scotoma, which is closely | | | | The formal term eccentric viewing is used to |
| associated with macular degeneration. | | | | describe this special viewing way. A person using |
| Actually, macular degeneration is the most | | | | eccentric viewing always looks slightly away from |
| dangerous factor of scotoma, although other | | | | an object in order to take use of his or her |
| conditions listed above all affect the retina or the | | | | peripheral vision, rather than the defected central |
| optic nerve. Central blind spot caused by macular | | | | vision. In this way, the damaged cone cells do |
| degeneration is quite understandable. In the back | | | | nothing but the rod cells can perform peripheral |
| of the retina, macula is responsible for central | | | | vision effectively. |
| vision. However, macular degeneration can cause | | | | In some instances, rod cells can be trained to |
| the photoreceptor cells or cone cells in the eye to | | | | perform some tasks that belong to cone cells in a |
| die, which results in central blind spot. | | | | person without central scotoma. These functions |
| In some cases, a central scotoma may enlarge as | | | | include detailed vision and color perception. But |
| the macular degeneration progresses. Besides a | | | | only with proper training, lots of practice as well |
| spot in the central vision, a central scotoma has | | | | as the appropriate visual aids can the rod cells |
| other symptoms such as need for more light, and | | | | acquire these functions. This process also requires |
| contrast, difficulty perceiving certain colors and so | | | | the brain to learn new techniques and ways of |
| on. These symptoms can be quite disabling and | | | | seeing the world. |
| frustrating for some people. In serious cases, | | | | |