Abstract
Purpose :
Fixation stability is frequently targeted and trained in low-vision rehabilitation practices to improve accuracy and speed in reading. But does this training lead to improvements in other tasks that use vision? About 1 in 4 older adults report having a major fall, with this increasing to 1 in 2 for visually impaired older adults. Previously, researchers have shown that fixation stability is a visual parameter that can contribute to the control of balance. However, these studies were correlational in nature, and did not include a direct intervention to improve fixation stability. Here, we quantified fixation stability before and after a 6-week eccentric viewing rehabilitation training program, to determine if this could lead to improved reading and balance.
Methods :
16 rehabilitation clients have successfully completed the program to date. Tests included reading ability using the Pepper Visual Skills Reading Test (PVSRT) and fixation stability using the Optos Scanning Laser Ophthalmoscope. Balance was assessed using a subjective measure (Activities-specific balance confidence, ABC) and objective measures including the Timed Up-and-Go (TUG), Dynamic Gait Index (DGI), and postural control were measured using the Nintendo Wii Balance Board.
Results :
Fixation stability improved in all clients to below 2 degrees, except for one client that showed no improvement. Reading speed did not statistically improve (g=-.1), but reading accuracy did show improvement (g = 0.657, p<.001). Subjective balance confidence assessed by the ABC showed improvement (g=.841, p=.002). TUG performance improved post-training (g = 0.428, p=.013). Improvement post-training was also observed for the DGI (g = 0.489, p=.003). However, postural control showed a minimal effect of training, g = 0.035, p=.849.
Conclusions :
These results show that improvements in fixation stability through eccentric viewing training can lead to expected improvements in reading accuracy. However, cross-modal improvements are also observed in subjective and objective measures of balance performance, though training has little impact on postural control.
This abstract was presented at the 2024 ARVO Annual Meeting, held in Seattle, WA, May 5-9, 2024.