Astigmatism
What is it?
Visual perception
Being able to process a visual stimuli is a seven step process. After seeing the stimuli, the light is reflected through the eye and onto the retina by the principle of transformation and representation (Goldstein, 2014). Next the visual receptors transform the light energy into electrical energy and shaping the perception by the visual pigments. The fourth step involves the neural processing which happens in neurons similar to the retina. The signals travel all the way to the brain. When the signals reach the brain, the visual stimuli is perceived, recognized, and deciding how to act on the stimuli. By perceiving the object, the brain gives it meaning and we are able to recognize it (Goldstein, 2014).
Gestalt theories state a person views the object as a whole and is able to take parts from the whole, but we see the whole object first (Goldstein, 2014). Humans perceive stimuli as a whole object instead of tiny points that make up an object like structuralism viewed perception. Gestalt approach has six different principles that make up the theory including proximity, similarity, common fate, good continuation, closure, and area/symmetry (Breedlove & Watson, 2013).
Eye Shape
Focal Point
Visual Stimuli
Treatment options
References:
Breedlove, M. & Watson, N. (2013). Biological psychology: An introduction to behavioral, cognitive, and clinical neuroscience (7th Ed.). Sunderland, MA: Sunderland Associates, Inc.
Goldstein, E.B., (2014). Sensation and perception. (9th Ed.) Belmont CA: Wadsworth
Helwig, D. L. (2013). Astigmatism. In B. Narins (Ed.), The Gale Encyclopedia of Nursing and Allied Health (3rd ed., Vol. 1, pp. 350-352). Detroit: Gale. Retrieved from GVRL database.
Flores Eye Clinic [Photograph]. (2014). Retrieved from http://floreseyeclinic.com/education/3023-astigmatism.html
Rutherford Eye Care [Photograph]. (2016). Retrieved from http://www.rutherfordeyecare.com/your-eyes/astigmatism/