Clinical effect of low vision aids

Abstract

The number of patients with low vision is increasing as life expectancy increases. In addition, the interest and demand for low vision aids are also increasing with improved socioeconomic status and the development of mass media. Therefore, it is imperative to recognize the importance of low vision aids. We reviewed the clinical records of 118 patients who visited our low vision clinic more than twice. According to the data analyzed, optic nerve atrophy, retinal degeneration, diabetic retinopathy and age-related macular degeneration were the most common causes of low vision in these patients. The best corrected visual acuities without low vision aids were less than 0.3, but with the help of low vision aids, vision improved to more than 0.4 in 87% of the patients for near vision, and 56% for distant vision. The patients had complained that they could not read books, see a blackboard, recognize a person at a distance, and had other problems because of low vision. However, with the use of low vision aids their satisfaction with their vision rose to 70%. Hand magnifiers, high-powered spectacle lenses, and stand magnifiers were the low vision aids commonly used by people for near vision, while the Galilean telescope and Keplerian telescope were the most popular devices used for distant vision. In conclusion, low vision aids are very helpful devices to patients with low vision.

Characteristics of 681 Low Vision Patients in Korea

“…Concerning the causes of low vision, in this study, the most common cause was optic nerve atrophy, which is consistent with other low vision reports in Korea (5). However, since 1999, the most common cause of low vision has been macular degeneration including age-related macular degeneration and diabetic retinopathy which showed increased proportions.…”

Retrospective analysis of low vision assistive products – A 6-year review

“…Our LVAP recommendation rates were similar to Bakkar et al ., who gave LVAP to 43.7% of the total patients seen in low vision clinics. [ 23 ] Chotikavanich et al . [ 7 ] in their study recommended LVAPs to 51.8% of adults and 25.1% of the pediatric group.…”

“…The most common causes of VI in our study population as a whole differed markedly from the studies in Korea by Ji et al . [ 23 ] (Optic Atrophy) and in Northern Jordan by Bakkar et al . [ 24 ] (Albinotic patients).…”