[Principle of the useful field of view and normative data]

Abstract

Purpose: The useful field of view is a test which takes into account the influence of patient attention during the evaluation of the visual field. This study aims to generate normative data for an adaptation of the useful field of view (UFOV) test. These normative data are essential to judge, in a clinical setting, whether patients' performance is normal or not across demographically similar peers, in order to advise whether or not to resume driving after a brain injury (traumatic brain injury, stroke or cerebral tumour).

Patients and methods: This study examined demographic influences on an UFOV adaptation in a sample of 52 control participants (17 males and 35 females, aged 19 to 69) with no prior ophthalmologic or neurologic history. This adaptation used three visual attention tasks. In a simple task (ST), the participant had to detect, as fast as (s)he could, a single target in a visual display; in a double task (DT,) (s)he had to detect both a central and a lateral target in a double task with visual distractions present on the screen. The number of missed targets and the time needed to detect them are measured.

Results: Time to detect target was found to differ by gender and by age. Men and young people (from 19 to 29 years) are faster at detecting central and lateral targets. However, no demographic influence was observed on the number of missed targets.

Conclusions: A normative table for this French UFOV adaptation is provided. This will allow clinicians to compare patient performance with similar peers and may help in identifying persons who would benefit from training on a driving simulator or having a road test with a driving-school.

Keywords: Champ visuel attentionnel; Conduite automobile; Données contrôles; Driving skills; Normative data; UFOV test (useful field of view).