Reading performance with various lamps in age‐related macular degeneration

The purpose of this study was to determine if there was an objective difference in reading between four commonly available lamps, of varying spectral radiance, for 13 subjects with age‐related maculopathy (ARM) or non‐exudative age‐related macular degeneration (AMD) – logMAR visual acuity between 0.04 and 0.68. At a constant illuminance of 2000 lux, there was no interaction between ARM and AMD subgroups and no statistically significant difference between the lamps: standard (clear envelope) incandescent, daylight simulation (blue tint envelope) incandescent, compact fluorescent and halogen incandescent, for any reading outcome measure (threshold print size p = 0.67, critical print size p = 0.74, acuity reserve p = 0.84 and mean reading rate p = 0.78). For lamps typically used in low‐vision rehabilitation, a clinically significant effect of spectral radiance on reading for people with ARM or non‐exudative AMD is unlikely.

[1]  P T de Jong,et al.  An international classification and grading system for age-related maculopathy and age-related macular degeneration , 1995 .

[2]  K B Eldred,et al.  Optimal Illumination for Reading in Patients with Age-Related Maculopathy , 1992, Optometry and vision science : official publication of the American Academy of Optometry.

[3]  I L Bailey,et al.  New Design Principles for Visual Acuity Letter Charts* , 1976, American journal of optometry and physiological optics.

[4]  F. Eperjesi,et al.  A randomised controlled trial investigating the effect of nutritional supplementation on visual function in normal, and age-related macular disease affected eyes: design and methodology [ISRCTN78467674] , 2003, Nutrition journal.

[5]  G. Fonda,et al.  Management of Low Vision , 1981 .

[6]  G E Legge,et al.  Psychophysics of reading. IV. Wavelength effects in normal and low vision. , 1986, Journal of the Optical Society of America. A, Optics and image science.

[7]  A. Valberg,et al.  Lighting Needs and Lighting Comfort during Reading with Age-Related Macular Degeneration , 2004 .

[8]  A. Adelstein.  Studies on medical and population subjects. , 1976 .

[9]  B. Brown,et al.  Dark Adaptation and the Acuity/Luminance Response in Senile Macular Degeneration (SMD) , 1983, American journal of optometry and physiological optics.

[10]  GORDON E. LEGGE,et al.  Psychophysics of Reading. VIII. The Minnesota Low- Vision Reading Test , 1989, Optometry and vision science : official publication of the American Academy of Optometry.

[11]  J. Lovie-Kitchin,et al.  Determining magnification for reading with low vision , 2002, Clinical & experimental optometry.

[12]  I. Abramov,et al.  Color vision in the peripheral retina. I. Spectral sensitivity. , 1977, Journal of the Optical Society of America.

[13]  C Owsley,et al.  Identifying the content area for the 51-item National Eye Institute Visual Function Questionnaire: results from focus groups with visually impaired persons. , 1998, Archives of ophthalmology.

[14]  Gordon E Legge,et al.  Psychophysics of reading XX. Linking letter recognition to reading speed in central and peripheral vision , 2001, Vision Research.

[15]  Lighting Research and Technology , 1968 .

[16]  S. Haymes,et al.  Effects of task lighting on visual function in age‐related macular degeneration , 2006, Ophthalmic & physiological optics : the journal of the British College of Ophthalmic Opticians.

[17]  J. Silver,et al.  VISUAL DISABILITY AND HOME LIGHTING , 1979, The Lancet.

[18]  K L Petre,et al.  Visual function and subjective quality of life compared in subjects with acquired macular disease. , 2000, Investigative ophthalmology & visual science.

[19]  Louise L. Sloan,et al.  Variation of acuity with luminance in ocular diseases and anomalies , 1969, Documenta Ophthalmologica.

[20]  S. Lagrow.  Assessing Optimal Illumination for Visual Response Accuracy in Visually Impaired Adults , 1986 .

[21]  A. Bowers,et al.  Illumination and reading performance in age‐related macular degeneration , 2001, Clinical & experimental optometry.

[22]  Mary A. Johnson,et al.  Color vision in the peripheral retina. , 1986 .

[23]  D. Whitaker,et al.  Light scatter in the normal young, elderly, and cataractous eye demonstrates little wavelength dependency. , 1993, Optometry and vision science : official publication of the American Academy of Optometry.

[24]  H. Lindner,et al.  Subjective lighting needs of the old and the pathological eye , 1989 .

[25]  J. G. Strong,et al.  Demographic characteristics of the vision-disabled elderly. , 1997, Investigative ophthalmology & visual science.

[26]  Michael D. Williams,et al.  A National Outcomes Assessment of the Rehabilitation of Adults with Visual Impairments , 2000 .

[27]  S. Whittaker,et al.  Visual Requirements for Reading , 1993, Optometry and vision science : official publication of the American Academy of Optometry.

[28]  Tai Chi for People with Visual Impairments: A Pilot Study , 2004 .

[29]  Gordon E. Legge,et al.  Printed cards for measuring low-vision reading speed , 1995, Vision Research.

[30]  Visual acuity at home and in eye clinics. , 1978, Transactions of the ophthalmological societies of the United Kingdom.

[31]  L T Chylack,et al.  Lens Opacities Classification System. , 1988, Archives of ophthalmology.

[32]  Variation in near visual acuity with illuminance for a group of 27 partially-sighted people , 1984 .