Adaptation au scotome central. Partie I

Among the different means to adapt to central scotoma is eccentric fixation in several zones, the most documented and best-known phenomenon. After anatomic destruction of the macula, one area of the perifoveal retina may become the new oculomotor reference. This area is referred to as the preferred retinal locus (PRL). Scanning laser ophthalmoscopy greatly facilitated the analysis of these preferred retinal loci. However, the mechanisms involved in establishing the PRL remain insufficiently known. Furthermore, there may be several PRLs, which differ depending on the fixated target. PRL stability may also differ greatly among patients. The present review analyzes published data on the location of the preferred retinal loci, their number, and the factors that favor their occurrence. Methods to study the PRL and the relationship of the PRL with the visual cortex are also analyzed.