A retrospective study of causes of visual impairment and use of low vision devices in the low vision clinic in Trinidad and Tobago

Abstract

Purpose To determine the causes of visual impairment and the use of low vision devices in patients attending the low vision clinic in Trinidad and Tobago. Methods A retrospective study of the 222 patients attending the low vision clinic at the University of the West Indies, St Augustine Campus was conducted. The presenting visual acuity, causes of low vision and blindness, and prescribed low vision devices were recorded and analysed to determine the major causes of visual impairment and improvement in visual acuity with low vision aids. Results Out of the total 222 participants, 66.66% ( n = 148) had low vision while the rest (33.33%, n = 74) were legally blind. Glaucoma was the major cause of low vision (31.08%) and blindness (28.38%) followed by diabetic retinopathy (20.94%, low vision and 20.27%, blindness). A total of 193 low vision devices were prescribed, 79.79% ( n = 154) near devices and 20.20% ( n = 39) distance devices. The low vision devices were effective in improving both near visual acuity (120 participants reading 1M or 2M) and distance visual acuity (VA better than 3/60). Conclusion The major causes of vision impairment in Trinidad and Tobago were glaucoma and diabetic retinopathy and low vision devices are effective in improving visual acuity. A comprehensive approach to dealing with the causes of low vision and low vision services are required to mitigate the burden of visual impairment in the country.

The Etiology and Pattern of Low Vision Patients in UiTM

“…Additionally, near low vision aids are also prescribed in UiTM Low Vision Clinic, this includes spectacles at near (high addition power), electronic magnifier, and stand magnifier. This observation was similar to a previous study at a low vision clinic in Trinidad and Tobago (23). This can be due to doctors mainly receiving complaints of patients having difficulty reading something nearer (32).…”

“…A higher number of patients had near visual acuity from 0.8M and up to 2.0M, making up 72.2% of the low vision patients at the UiTM Low Vision Clinic. This trend was similar to the low vision clinics in Trinidad and Tobago, in which about 35.6% of the low vision patients had a near visual acuity of better than 2.0M (23).…”

“…This finding was similar to a report from a low vision clinic in Trinidad and Tobago. The study revealed that visual impairment patients were higher in number than blind patients, and about 67.6% of low vision patients had visual acuity that is worse than 6/18 (23). Consequently, this observation can be related to the world's prevalence of visual impairment and blindness.…”

“…Diabetic retinopathy was one of the causes of visual impairment in this study. In Trinidad and Tobago, diabetic retinopathy was the second leading cause of visual impairment and blindness (23). Diabetic retinopathy was also the third main cause of visual impairment at the Kooyong Low Vision Clinic, Australia (28).…”

Vision rehabilitation in glaucoma patients

“…Patients with mild to moderate glaucoma have impaired reading ability (slower reading speeds) compared with controls, even with preserved central vision [26 ▪ ,27 ▪ ]. A number of optical, nonoptical and electronic aids can help improve visual acuity and optimize reading for glaucoma patients with low vision [28 ▪ ,29].…”