Residual stereopsis in age-related macular degeneration patients and its impact on vision-related abilities: A pilot study

• Published in: Journal of optometry Vol. 7; no. 2; pp. 100 - 105
• Main Authors: Cao, Kathy Y, Markowitz, Samuel N
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Spain Elsevier Espana 01-04-2014; Elsevier
• Subjects: Age-related macular degeneration; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Degeneración macular asociada a la edad; Depth Perception - physiology; Estereopsis; Female; Humans; Low vision rehabilitation; Macular Degeneration - physiopathology; Male; Middle Aged; Ophthalmology; Original; Pilot Projects; Prospective Studies; Regression Analysis; Rehabilitación de la baja visión; Stereopsis; Visual Acuity; Estereopsis; Stereopsis; Age-related macular degeneration; Low vision rehabilitation; Degeneración macular asociada a la edad; Rehabilitación de la baja visión
• ISSN: 1888-4296; 1989-1342
• DOI: 10.1016/j.optom.2013.12.003

Abstract Objective To determine the effect of residual stereopsis on vision-related abilities of low vision (LV) patients with age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Methods Prospective non-randomized observational case series. Inclusion criteria included documented AMD, LV with best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) of 20/50–20/400 in the better eye, and ages between 50 and 90 years. Stereoacuity was measured using the near Frisby Stereotest. Vision related abilities were documented with the VA LV VFQ-48 questionnaire. Results Twenty-seven subjects with mean age of 84±6 years old were recruited, of which 59.3% (16/27) were female. 59.3% (16/27) of the subjects were not able to see any stereoacuity plate, 25.9% (7/27) had stereoacuity of 340 s of arc (SOA), 11.1% (3/27) had stereoacuity of 170 SOA and 3.7% (1/27) had stereoacuity of 85 SOA. The mean Overall Functional Visual Abilities (OFVA) score was significantly higher in those with stereopsis (2.25±0.99) than those without stereopsis (1.50±0.92) ( P =0.028). Conclusions LV patients with stereopsis have better OFVA than those without. Stereopsis should be considered as a component of LV rehabilitation and considered as an outcome measure in research and clinical practice.