Visual factors and orientation-mobility performance.

The ability of the person with low vision to achieve successful orientation and mobility depends on residual vision, age of onset of visual impairment, posture and balance, intelligence, body image, auditory-tactile abilities, and personality. This study assesses the role of the residual vision and looks in particular at visual fields, spatial contrast sensitivity, and visual acuity. Correlation coefficients indicate that, for low vision patients, spatial contrast sensitivity and visual fields each have more influence on orientation-mobility than does visual acuity.