Reading with multiple preferred retinal loci: implications for training a more efficient reading strategy.

The reading strategies in individuals with central scotomas and more than one preferred retinal locus (PRL) were investigated using a scanning laser ophthalmoscope in order to understand the visual requirements that lead to the need to use more than one PRL during reading. It was found that: (1) PRL function can be deduced from variation in PRL usage for different size and length of isolated words; (2) each subject used two or more PRL to accomplish the functions of global viewing and discrimination, suggesting that these are two of the minimum requirements for reading; (3) reading strategies can change depending on the position of words in visual space; (4) line-changing strategies can revert to horizontal and vertical component movements. These findings have implications for improving reading performance through training in patients with central scotomas.