Long term outcomes in dry age-related macular degeneration following low vision rehabilitation interventions

2020 ◽  
pp. 112067212097362
Author(s):  
Yulia Pyatova ◽  
Monica Daibert-Nido ◽  
Samuel N Markowitz
Keyword(s):  
Visual Acuity ◽  
Low Vision ◽  
Age Related Macular Degeneration ◽  
Age Related ◽  
Low Vision Rehabilitation ◽  
Fixation Stability ◽  
Functional Vision ◽  
Vision Rehabilitation ◽  
Distance Vision

Background: Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is the leading cause of loss of vision in the older age groups. In the absence of a known therapy, low vision rehabilitation aims at preserving residual functional vision at optimal levels. Long term functional outcomes from Low Vision Rehabilitation (LVR) in AMD cases were never scrutinized in the past. This study brings some clarification in this matter. Methods: This is a retrospective case series study including data up to 2 years following the baseline visit. Low Vision Assessments included microperimetry testing and recommendations for low vision devices for distance vision. Outcomes measures selected for this study were best corrected distance visual acuity, fixation stability and preferred retinal locus (PRL) topography and LVR interventions. Results: Data on 17 patients with an average age of 89.2 ± 4.4 years was collected. In those with better vision than 20/400 loss of vision was about 1.4 letter per year as tested with ETDRS charts compared with losses of four letters per year in a population without LVR interventions. Fixation stability continued to deteriorate while PRL eccentricity seemed to remain the same. In about half of cases there was a change in the topographic location of the PRL to a different retinal quadrant. Conclusion: Long term, as expected, changes were noticed in visual acuity, fixation stability and PRL topography. However, it seems that LVR interventions for distance vision help patients retain significantly better functional vision at the 2 years follow up interval when compared to others.

scholarly journals Vision Rehabilitation in Patients with Age-related Macular Degeneration

2014 ◽  
Vol 3 ◽  
pp. RPO.S12364 ◽  
Author(s):  
Filippo M. Amore ◽  
Stefania Fortini ◽  
Valeria Silvestri ◽  
Marco Sulfaro ◽  
Alessia Pacifici ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Visual Acuity ◽  
Macular Degeneration ◽  
Visual Stimulation ◽  
Low Vision ◽  
Reading Speed ◽  
Age Related Macular Degeneration ◽  
International Agency ◽  
Visual Rehabilitation ◽  
Age Related ◽  
Fixation Stability

Background The aim of this study was to investigate the rehabilitative process and visual rehabilitation outcomes in patients with central vision loss due to age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Methods Ninety-five subjects with AMD selected from the attendees of the National Centre of Services and Research for the Prevention of Blindness and Rehabilitation of Low Vision Patients—International Agency for Prevention of Blindness—IAPB Italia Onlus, were evaluated for this retrospective study. Low vision examination included psychological counseling, best corrected visual acuity (BCVA), near visual acuity, Pelli-Robson contrast sensitivity, and fixation stability analysis. Once the clinical assessment was completed, patients attended a low-vision rehabilitative pathway based on visual stimulation, devices training and, if needed, psychological support. Required magnification and reading speed were also evaluated. Results For the whole sample, the mean BCVA of the better eye was 0.7 (±0.2) LogMAR and of the worse eye was 1 (±0.2) LogMAR. Restoring reading ability was the most important focus for the patients examined as it was requested by 85% of the whole sample. Mean power of optical magnifying aids for near activities was 10.6 (±9.1) positive spherical diopters. Mean reading speed for the whole sample was 33.1 (±18.2) words per minute (wpm) before visual rehabilitation sessions and increased to 55.2 (±33.1) wpm after visual rehabilitation path. To cope with distance difficulties, 78 distance refractive correction, 10 Galilean telescopes, and 7 Keplerian telescopes were prescribed. For intermediate distance activities, 22 compensation lenses and 10 Galilean telescopes were suggested. Moreover, PC magnifier softwares were prescribed to nine patients. Sixty-five polarized medical filters were prescribed to reduce glare of sunlight. Because of unstable fixation in their better eye (32.3% (±19.7) within 2° circle and 54.8% (±22.9) within 4° circle) and visual acuity < 1.2 LogMAR in the fellow eye, 38 subjects, before starting the devices training sessions, attended a bio-feedback rehabilitation session with flickering pattern stimulus. In these subjects, fixation stability increased significantly to 75.6 (±14.9) within 2° and 89.4 (±19.5) within 4° ( P < 0.05), respectively. Conclusions Attending a customized low-vision intervention based on a multidisciplinary approach seems to be effective for improving visual functions in AMD. Both optical/electronic magnifiers and specific visual stimulation program can enhance visual performances.

Biofeedback Low Vision Rehabilitation with Retimax Vision Trainer in Patients with Advanced Age-related Macular Degeneration: A Pilot Study

2020 ◽  
Vol 35 (3) ◽  
pp. 164-169 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tommaso Verdina ◽  
Stefania Piaggi ◽  
Riccardo Peschiera ◽  
Valeria Russolillo ◽  
Vanessa Ferraro ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Pilot Study ◽  
Macular Degeneration ◽  
Low Vision ◽  
Age Related Macular Degeneration ◽  
Advanced Age ◽  
Age Related ◽  
Low Vision Rehabilitation ◽  
Vision Rehabilitation

scholarly journals Low vision, Sequelae and Low Vision Rehabilitation in Retinopathy of Prematurity

2018 ◽  
pp. 81-87
Keyword(s):  
Retinopathy Of Prematurity ◽  
Low Vision ◽  
Visual Field Defects ◽  
Low Vision Rehabilitation ◽  
Functional Vision ◽  
Vision Rehabilitation ◽  
Preterm Born ◽  
Premature Born ◽  
Visual Disturbances

Retinopathy of prematurity is one of the most important causes of blindness and low vision in childhood. In premature-born individuals, as well as retinopathy of prematurity, cerebral-induced visual disturbances are frequent and may result in low vision and blindness. In premature-born infants and children with or without retinopathy of prematurity, long-term eye and visual disturbances are more common than the term-born ones. Among these; myopia, refraction errors, strabismus, amblyopia, glaucoma, cataract, late retinal detachments, sensory and perceptual dysfunction, visual field defects, and cerebral visual disturbances can be seen. For this reason, life-long follow-ups of preterm born individuals are so important in terms of functional vision in the longterm.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document