TY - JOUR

T1 - Effectiveness of portable electronic and optical magnifiers for near vision activities in low vision

T2 - a randomised crossover trial

AU - Taylor, John J.

AU - Bambrick, Rachel

AU - Brand, Andrew

AU - Bray, Nathan

AU - Dutton, Michelle

AU - Harper, Robert A

AU - Hoare, Zoe

AU - Ryan, Barbara

AU - Edwards, Rhiannon T

AU - Waterman, Heather

AU - Dickinson, Christine

N1 - © 2017 The Authors Ophthalmic & Physiological Optics © 2017 The College of Optometrists.

PY - 2017/6/27

Y1 - 2017/6/27

N2 - PURPOSE: To compare the performance of near vision activities using additional portable electronic vision enhancement systems (p-EVES), to using optical magnifiers alone, by individuals with visual impairment.METHODS: A total of 100 experienced optical aid users were recruited from low vision clinics at Manchester Royal Eye Hospital, Manchester, UK, to a prospective two-arm cross-over randomised controlled trial. Reading, performance of near vision activities, and device usage were evaluated at baseline; and at the end of each study arm (Intervention A: existing optical aids plus p-EVES; Intervention B: optical aids only) which was after 2 and 4 months.RESULTS: A total of 82 participants completed the study. Overall, maximum reading speed for high contrast sentences was not statistically significantly different for optical aids and p-EVES, although the critical print size and threshold print size which could be accessed with p-EVES were statistically significantly smaller (p < 0.001 in both cases). The optical aids were used for a larger number of tasks (p < 0.001), and used more frequently (p < 0.001). However p-EVES were preferred for leisure reading by 70% of participants, and allowed longer duration of reading (p < 0.001). During the study arm when they had a p-EVES device, participants were able to carry out more tasks independently (p < 0.001), and reported less difficulty with a range of near vision activities (p < 0.001).CONCLUSIONS: The study provides evidence that p-EVES devices can play a useful role in supplementing the range of low vision aids used to reduce activity limitation for near vision tasks.

AB - PURPOSE: To compare the performance of near vision activities using additional portable electronic vision enhancement systems (p-EVES), to using optical magnifiers alone, by individuals with visual impairment.METHODS: A total of 100 experienced optical aid users were recruited from low vision clinics at Manchester Royal Eye Hospital, Manchester, UK, to a prospective two-arm cross-over randomised controlled trial. Reading, performance of near vision activities, and device usage were evaluated at baseline; and at the end of each study arm (Intervention A: existing optical aids plus p-EVES; Intervention B: optical aids only) which was after 2 and 4 months.RESULTS: A total of 82 participants completed the study. Overall, maximum reading speed for high contrast sentences was not statistically significantly different for optical aids and p-EVES, although the critical print size and threshold print size which could be accessed with p-EVES were statistically significantly smaller (p < 0.001 in both cases). The optical aids were used for a larger number of tasks (p < 0.001), and used more frequently (p < 0.001). However p-EVES were preferred for leisure reading by 70% of participants, and allowed longer duration of reading (p < 0.001). During the study arm when they had a p-EVES device, participants were able to carry out more tasks independently (p < 0.001), and reported less difficulty with a range of near vision activities (p < 0.001).CONCLUSIONS: The study provides evidence that p-EVES devices can play a useful role in supplementing the range of low vision aids used to reduce activity limitation for near vision tasks.

KW - Adult

KW - Aged

KW - Aged, 80 and over

KW - Cross-Over Studies

KW - Eyeglasses

KW - Female

KW - Follow-Up Studies

KW - Humans

KW - Image Processing, Computer-Assisted

KW - Male

KW - Middle Aged

KW - Prospective Studies

KW - Reading

KW - Sensory Aids

KW - Vision, Low

KW - Visual Acuity

KW - Visually Impaired Persons

KW - Young Adult

KW - Journal Article

KW - Randomized Controlled Trial

U2 - 10.1111/opo.12379

DO - 10.1111/opo.12379

M3 - Article

C2 - 28497480

VL - 37

SP - 370

EP - 384

JO - Ophthalmic & physiological optics : the journal of the British College of Ophthalmic Opticians (Optometrists)

JF - Ophthalmic & physiological optics : the journal of the British College of Ophthalmic Opticians (Optometrists)

SN - 0275-5408

IS - 4

ER -