| Methods |
Quote: “Portability and ease of text and spot reading is a challenge for low vision patients needing high levels of magnification. ‘Powervision,’ a new, head-mounted electronic magnification system, offers portable high magnification for reading. This pilot study compared the speed and accuracy of text and spot reading by low vision patients using ‘Powervision’ (P), traditional CCTV (C) and a comparable hand held magnifier (H). METHODS. Twenty patients from the Vision Rehabilitation Center of the Mass. Eye and Ear Infirmary best corrected to < or = 20/80, could read English, and consented to participate were included. Patients were scored on time and accuracy of reading three short paragraphs of text (8, 12, 18 pt print) and spot reading of a hospital bill. Patients reported ease of reading with each of the three devices.” |
| Outcomes |
Quote: “Ages ranged 22-92 (mean 58.3), with acuities of 20/80-20/800 (mean 20/267), and primary diagnoses of ARMD (23%) and other etiologies of visual loss. Text reading mean scores (360s maximum) were P: 313s, C: 180s, H: 248s, and accuracy (12.0=whole paragraph correct, 0=could not read) was P: 8.4, C: 11.3, H: 8.9. Spot reading mean times were P: 95s, C: 60s, H: 83s and accuracy (4.0= all correct, 8.0= all incorrect) measured P: 5.4, C: 4. 2, H: 5.1. Mean patient reports of ease of use (1=Very Easy, 5=Very Difficult) were P: 3.5, C: 1.9, H: 3.1 for text reading and P: 3.6, C: 1.7, H: 2.8 for spot reading. DISCUSSION. In this pilot population, despite its portability, Powervision scored less well on speed and accuracy of spot and test reading and for patient report of ease of use. Planned redesign and training in use may improve patient performance.” |
