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Han, Kwon, Han, Wee, and Lee: Clinical Aspect of Low Vision Patients due to Macular Degeneration
Original Article

J Korean Ophthalmol Soc 2009;50(2):280-284.

Published online: 3 January 2009

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3341/jkos.2009.50.2.280

Clinical Aspect of Low Vision Patients due to Macular Degeneration

Sang Beom Han, MD1, Ji Won Kwon, MD1, 2, Young Keun Han, MD3, Won Ryang Wee, MD1, Jin Hak Lee, MD4

1Department of Ophthalmology, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul Artificial Eye Center, Seoul National University Hospital Clinical Research Institute, Seoul, Korea

2Department of Ophthalmology, Seoul National University Hospital Health Care System Gangnam Center, Healthcare Research Institute, Seoul, Korea

3Department of Ophthalmology, Seoul National University Boramae Hospital, Seoul, Korea

4Department of Ophthalmology, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, Seongnam, Korea

Address reprint requests to Ji Won Kwon, MD Department of Ophthalmology, Seoul National University Hospital #28 Yongon-dong, Chongno-gu, Seoul 110-744, Korea Tel: 82-2-2072-2437, Fax: 82-2-741-3187, E-mail: eyeminerva@yahoo.co.kr

Received 4 December 2007       Accepted 11 September 2008

Copyright © 2009 Korean Ophthalmological Society

This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/) which permits unrestricted non-commercial use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

Abstract

Purpose

To investigate the clinical features of low vision patients due to macular degeneration and to evaluate the efficacy of low vision aids in patients with the disease.

Methods

Out of 283 patients who visited the vision clinic of Seoul National University Hospitalfrom March 2004 to January 2007, the number of patients with macular degeneration was 38. Their medical records were reviewed retrospectively.

Results

The study group consisted of 23 male and 15 female patients. The average age was 69.7±11.2 years and 34 patients (89.5%) were over 50 years of age. From the visits to the low vision clinic, results showed thenear vision improved in 63%, distant vision in 5.3%, and both in 7.9% of the patients. With the help of low vision aids, near visual acuity of 0.4 or better was achieved in 80% of the patients. Low vision aids were prescribed for near vision in 30 patients and for distant vision in 2 patients.

Conclusions

Near vision can improve in most macular degeneration patients with the use of proper low vision aids. Consistent education and training could promote successful use of the devices.

Keywords: Low vision, Macular degeneration

References

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Figure 1.
Goldmann perimetry in a patient with age-related macular degeneration shows bilateral large central scotoma. (R) right, (L) left.
jkos-50-280f1.tif
Table 1.
Age distribution of the total patients group and that of the macular degeneration group.
Age (yr) Total Macular degeneration
0∼10 33 0
11∼20 34 0
21∼30 24 0
31∼40 23 0
41∼50 40 4
51∼60 44 2
61∼70 48 12
71∼80 29 15
81∼ 8 5
Total 283 38
Table 2.
Distribution of binocular visual acuity of patients (far, near visual acuity before, and after the correction with low vision aids)
Visual acuity (Decimal) Far Near (Before) correction Near (After correction)
∼0.08 23 (60.5%) 9 (23.7%) 0 (0%)
0.1∼0.2 13 (34.2%) 25 (65.8%) 3 (10%)
0.25∼0.32 0 (0%) 3 (7.9%) 3 (10%)
0.4∼0.5 1 (2.6%) 0 (0%) 17 (56.7%)
0.6∼ 1 (2.6%) 1 (2.6%) 7 (23.3%)
Table 3.
Binocular near visual acuity of the patients before and after the correction with the low vision aids
Cases V/A* before correction
 V/A after correction†
Decimal LogMAR Decimal LogMAR
1 0.63 0.2 0.63 0.2
2 0.1 1.0 0.5 0.3
3 0.1 1.0 0.5 0.3
4 0.08 1.1 0.63 0.2
5 0.2 0.7 0.4 0.4
6 0.12 0.9 0.5 0.3
7 0.063 1.2 0.5 0.3
8 0.12 0.9 0.5 0.3
9 0.063 1.2 0.5 0.3
10 0.1 1.0 0.2 0.7
11 0.05 1.3 0.4 0.4
12 0.1 1.0 0.63 0.2
13 0.1 1.0 0.32 0.5
14 0.08 1.1 0.25 0.6
15 0.1 1.0 0.4 0.4
16 0.1 1.0 0.4 0.4
17 0.16 0.8 0.5 0.3
18 0.12 0.9 0.5 0.3
19 0.16 0.8 0.32 0.5
20 0.32 0.5 0.4 0.4
21 0.05 1.3 0.12 0.9
22 0.2 0.7 0.4 0.4
23 0.25 0.6 0.8 0.1
24 0.12 0.9 0.63 0.2
25 0.12 0.9 0.5 0.3
26 0.16 0.8 0.63 0.2
27 0.2 0.7 0.63 0.2
28 0.16 0.8 0.2 0.7
29 0.3 0.5 0.4 0.4
30 0.08 1.1 0.5 0.3
Mean V/A‡ 0.90±0.25 0.37±0.17

* V/A binocular near visual acuity;

† The binocular near visual acuities (LogMAR) after correction with low vision aids were significantly better than those before correction. (paired t-test, p=0.000)

‡ Mean V/A; The mean binocular near visual acuity. The mean binocular near visual acuity (LogMAR) was significantly improved significantly was also significantly with correction. (independent t-test, p=0.000)

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