June 2022
Volume 63, Issue 7
Open Access
ARVO Annual Meeting Abstract  |   June 2022
Exploring Smartphone Visual Assistive Applications in Seniors with Low Vision
Author Affiliations & Notes
  • Nicole Ross
    Specialty and Advanced Care, New England College of Optometry, Boston, Massachusetts, United States
  • Jeffrey K Ho
    Specialty and Advanced Care, New England College of Optometry, Boston, Massachusetts, United States
  • Chris Bradley
    Ophthalmology, Johns Hopkins Medicine Wilmer Eye Institute, Baltimore, Maryland, United States
  • Alexis G Malkin
    Specialty and Advanced Care, New England College of Optometry, Boston, Massachusetts, United States
  • Max Estabrook
    Jules Stein Eye Institute, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, United States
  • Meghan Knizak
    Specialty and Advanced Care, New England College of Optometry, Boston, Massachusetts, United States
  • Bridget Peterson
    Specialty and Advanced Care, New England College of Optometry, Boston, Massachusetts, United States
  • Cecilia Idman-Rait
    Specialty and Advanced Care, New England College of Optometry, Boston, Massachusetts, United States
  • Melissa Chun
    Jules Stein Eye Institute, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, United States
  • Ava K Bittner
    Jules Stein Eye Institute, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, United States
  • Footnotes
    Commercial Relationships   Nicole Ross Eschenbach Optik, Code R (Recipient); Jeffrey Ho None; Chris Bradley Iris Vision, Code R (Recipient); Alexis Malkin Eschenbach Optik, Code R (Recipient); Max Estabrook None; Meghan Knizak None; Bridget Peterson None; Cecilia Idman-Rait None; Melissa Chun None; Ava Bittner None
  • Footnotes
    Support  NIDILRR Award, 90DPGE0012
Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science June 2022, Vol.63, 4054 – F0018. doi:
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    • Get Citation

      Nicole Ross, Jeffrey K Ho, Chris Bradley, Alexis G Malkin, Max Estabrook, Meghan Knizak, Bridget Peterson, Cecilia Idman-Rait, Melissa Chun, Ava K Bittner; Exploring Smartphone Visual Assistive Applications in Seniors with Low Vision. Invest. Ophthalmol. Vis. Sci. 2022;63(7):4054 – F0018.

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      © ARVO (1962-2015); The Authors (2016-present)

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Abstract

Purpose : Smartphones are becoming increasingly utilized by older adults with low vision, and an increasing number of visual assistive smartphone apps are available at no or little cost. We explored the effect these apps may have on visual ability for seniors with low vision.

Methods : Seniors naïve to the study apps, with a score >20 on the telephone interview of cognitive status (TICS), aged 55+ (mean 72; SD 10 years) and ETDRS visual acuity (VA) better than 1.3 logMAR (n=33, enrollment ongoing) were randomized to one of three study apps (Supervision+ for magnification; SeeingAI for optical character recognition; Aira for remote visual description). Subjects were provided training upon dispense of a loaner iPhone SE with the study app and again at 2-weeks. App proficiency was evaluated, phone use was monitored via Verizon mobile device management and questionnaires were administered at baseline and 3 months post-intervention: activity inventory (AI), Beck depression inventory (BDI), UCLA loneliness scale, and general self-efficacy scale. We applied the method of successive dichotomizations, a polytomous Rasch model, to estimate person measures from the AI pre- and post-intervention, using calibrated item measures and thresholds. Multiple linear regression was used to determine which factors influenced change in AI person measures.

Results : The majority of subjects were white (70%), college graduates (76%), had macular disease (45%) and were male (56%), with a mean (SD) VA of 0.64 (0.33) logMAR, and CS of 1.01 (0.49) logCS. Mean (SD) baseline AI person measures was 0.07 (1.0) logits, and post-intervention the AI change score was 0.41 (0.67) logits. The majority of subjects (69%) showed improvement in visual ability in each of the AI domains: goals, reading, visual motor, visual information and mobility. Baseline BDI score (p=0.004), baseline loneliness score (p=0.007), and use of the study phone within the past month (p=0.03) were significantly associated with greater AI change scores (R2=0.50). Self-efficacy, TICS, VA, app proficiency, and demographics were not significantly related to AI change scores post-intervention (all p>0.05).

Conclusions : Use of visual assistive apps may improve visual ability in seniors with low vision. These results indicate that these interventions should be considered as part of the rehabilitation plan.

This abstract was presented at the 2022 ARVO Annual Meeting, held in Denver, CO, May 1-4, 2022, and virtually.

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