Further research is needed on the comparison of different types of low vision aids. It will be also necessary to delineate patient's characteristics that predict performance with costly electronic devices as well as their sustained use in the long term compared to simpler and cheaper optical devices.
Reading performance of geriatric patients post exudative maculopathy.
This study was performed to evaluate any differences in reading speed and duration of comfortable reading speed in geriatric patients with post disciform stage exudative age-related macular degeneration (ARMD) or ocular histoplasmosis. Reading speed and duration with CCTV, illuminated stand magnifier, and spectacle lenses were compared for 37 patients in the Low Vision Program at the Central Blind Rehabilitation Center. Results indicate significantly faster reading speed with CCTV and spectacle lenses as compared to illuminated stand magnifiers. The difference between reading speeds measured with spectacle reading glasses and CCTVs was borderline significant. Patients read significantly longer with CCTVs than with spectacle lenses or illuminated stand magnifiers. No significant difference was found comparing spectacle lenses or illuminated stand magnifiers with regard to reading duration.