Abstract
Purpose: :
This study reports the use of low vision (LV) devices, their abandonment and the difficulty performing reading tasks reported by patients in the VA Low Vision Intervention Trial (LOVIT ).
Methods: :
The VA LV VFQ-48 was administered to 126 patients enrolled in LOVIT at baseline, 4 months and one year later. Patients were asked to rate the difficulty they experience performing reading tasks (not difficult, slightly/moderately difficult, extremely difficult, impossible) and respond how they currently perform the activity (own eyes/eyeglasses, low vision devices/techniques, non-visual devices/techniques or with assistance).
Results: :
53% to 67% of all patients in the treatment group did not use LV devices at baseline, but were using them at 4-month follow-up. These patients showed the largest decreases in their difficulty ratings from baseline to 4 months. Changes ranged from one to 2 ¼ steps on a 4 point rating scale. 5.7% to 40% of those who were using LV devices for a reading task at 4 months reported that they discontinued using the LV device for the task at one-year follow-up. The largest rate of abandonment of LV device use was for distance tasks (seeing street signs/store numbers, signs and print on TV).
Conclusions: :
It appears that the outcomes of LV rehabilitation for reading are closely tied to the use of LV devices.
Clinical Trial: :
www.clinicaltrials.gov NCT00223756
Keywords: low vision • clinical (human) or epidemiologic studies: treatment/prevention assessment/controlled clinical trials • reading