Effectiveness of Magnifying Low Vision Aids in Patients with Age-Related Macular Degeneration

The aim of the study was to evaluate the influence of magnification requirement on the effectiveness of low vision aids in patients with age-related macular degeneration (AMD). 656 AMD-patients underwent careful administration of low vision aids and were trained to read with prescribed visual aids for at least 30 minutes. Main outcome measures were: magnification requirement, prescribed low vision aids, reading speed [words per minute = wpm] before and after providing of low vision aids. Mean magnification requirement (MR) was 8.0 ± 6.2 fold, 257 patients had a MR up to 3-fold (Grade 1), 101 patients between 4 to 6-fold (Grade 2) and in 298 patients MR was more than 6-fold (Grade 3). The visual rehabilitation was sufficient with optical low-vision aids in 54%. In 44.5% electronic closed-circuit TV systems were necessary. Only 1.5% of the patients needed an electronic reading device. For the whole group, reading speed (wpm) was on average 12 ± 25 without and increased significantly up to 71 ± 33 with visual aids. There are significant differences (p < 0.0001) of reading speed in three magnification grades before (Grade 1, Grade 2, Grade 3: 27 ± 33, 7.4 ± 14, 0.3 ± 3.0) and after rehabilitation (95 ± 28, 72 ± 24, 46 ± 20, respectively). Patients with a lower magnification requirement (up to 6-fold) showed a significantly higher increase of reading speed than patients with higher magnification requirement (> 6-fold) (p < 0.0001). These results provide quantitative data concerning the success of rehabilitation for AMD-patients with regard to magnification requirement. This important option should be considered early in order to help patients maintain their reading ability, independence and mental agility.