Role of improved distance and near visual acuity with low vision aids to enhance stereopsis in retinal diseases

• Published in: Indian journal of ophthalmology Vol. 69; no. 7; pp. 1867 - 1871
• Main Authors: Sodhi, Punita, Gautam, Akanksha, Sharma, Nandini, Anand, Kamlesh, Sodhi, Ramneeq
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Mumbai Wolters Kluwer India Pvt. Ltd 01.07.2021; Medknow Publications and Media Pvt. Ltd; Medknow Publications & Media Pvt. Ltd; Wolters Kluwer - Medknow; Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications
• Subjects: Acuity; Blind, Apparatus for the; Care and treatment; Health aspects; low vision; low vision aids; Original; Retina; Retinal diseases; Stereo vision; stereopsis; stereopsis in low vision; stereopsis tests; Vision; Visual acuity; India; visual acuity; Low vision; stereopsis; stereopsis tests; low vision aids; stereopsis in low vision
• ISSN: 0301-4738; 1998-3689
• DOI: 10.4103/ijo.IJO_3154_20

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine role of improved distance and near best-corrected visual acuity (DBCVA and NBCVA) with use of magnification devices to enhance stereopsis in low vision (LV) subjects having retinal diseases. Methods: In a cross-sectional observational study without control, 84 subjects having LV due to retinal diseases were examined for an improvement of BCVA with use of magnifying low vision aids (LVAs) (2X for DBCVA and 3X for NBCVA). The stereopsis scores on titmus fly test were recorded with near refractive correction "on" and then with 3X magnification. The improvement in stereopsis for distance was however estimated through statistical correlation values. Results: The DBCVA (P < 0.001), NBCVA (P < 0.001) and stereopsis (P < 0.001) improved statistically significantly (SS) following magnifying LVA. There was no correlation between pre-LVA stereopsis and pre-LVA DBCVA (r = 0.059; P = 0.444;NSS) and post-LVA DBCVA (r = 0.054; P = 0.487;NSS); and no correlation between post-LVA stereopsis and pre-LVA DBCVA (r = 0.042; P = 0.592;NSS) and post-LVA DBCVA (r = 0.08; P = 0.920;NSS). There was no correlation between pre-LVA stereopsis and pre-LVA NBCVA (r = 0.044; P = 0.572;NSS) and no correlation between post-LVA stereopsis and pre-LVA NBCVA (r = 0.108; P = 0.165;NSS). But positive correlation between pre-LVA stereopsis and post-LVA NBCVA (r = 0.347; P < 0.001) and between post-LVA stereopsis and post-LVA NBCVA (r = 0.445; P < 0.001) was SS. Conclusion: The use of magnification as LVA improves both the BCVA and stereopsis. The increase in DBCVA with LVA improves the stereopsis for distance though it may not be SS while improvement in NBCVA with LVA enhances stereopsis for near objects in SS manner.