A M Y Cheong¹, J E Lovie-Kitchin¹, A Bowers²
¹Queensland University of Technology, Centre for Eye Research, Brisbane, Australia; ²Glasgow Caledonian University, Vision Sciences, Glasgow, United Kingdom
BACKGROUND:
Optical low vision aids (LVA) are often used by people with low vision (LV) to assist reading. In this study, we investigated the effect of large print (LP) reading practice on reading rate (RR) with stand magnifiers (STM).
METHODS:
Thirty-two LV subjects with age-related macular degeneration (ARMD) and no experience in using magnifiers were recruited. They were divided into 3 groups- practice 1 (P1), practice 2 (P2) and control groups. Vision and reading assessments determined appropriate magnification for all subjects. Before prescribing STM, P1 and P2 subjects were given LP books to read daily at home for 2 weeks. P2 subjects were required to read with a stand that reduced the field of view. Control group subjects received no reading practice. RR with STM on passages of text was assessed regularly over 2 months.
RESULTS:
There was no significant difference in RR on LP between visits for all groups (F=0.515, p=0.6). However RR for small print with STM was significantly slower than RR on LP for each group (p<0.045) when the magnifier was first prescribed. P1 and P2 subjects showed significant improvement in RR with STM over time (p<0.001) but there was no significant change in RR with STM for the control group (p=0.54).
CONCLUSION:
As previous studies have shown, RR is reduced when a STM is first introduced. However, LP reading practice, even with a reduced field of view, resulted in significant improvement in RR over time with STM. For most subjects RR achieved with the STM was approximately equal to RR on LP.
Return to the ISLRR.ORG Home Page
