[Visual rehabilitation in patients with retinitis pigmentosa].
OBJECTIVE
To determine which low-vision aids could be useful to patients with retinitis pigmentosa and also the benefits that the rehabilitation program could provide based on visual acuity and/or daily visual tasks.


METHODS
A group of 30 patients with retinitis pigmentosa aged from 7 to 73 years were enrolled in this study. Visual acuity and visual function tests (visual field, full-field electroretinogram) was performed and low-vision aids tested. Information about the use of the remaining vision was obtained. After choosing the best optical or electronic devices and before their prescription, a low-vision training program was carried out.


RESULTS
The best corrected visual acuity varied from HM (hand movements) to 20/40 for distance and visual acuity better than 16M to 0.5M for near. 90% of the patients had optical devices prescribed: 13 for near, 9 for distance, 2 electronic devices and 3 filters. Three patients with extremely narrow visual field and very low visual acuity were referred to orientation and mobility.


CONCLUSIONS
The low-vision aids were useful for the retinitis pigmentosa patients: telescopes, hand-held magnifiers, stand magnifiers, half-eye base-in prism lenses, electronic devices and illumination control were beneficial to enhance visual acuity and visual efficiency. The prescription of low-vision aids was helpful in daily-life activities and a high level of satisfaction with the implemented visual rehabilitation program was reported.
de Castro
Celina Tamaki Monteiro
CT
Setor de Visão Subnormal, Departamento de Oftalmologia, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brasil. celina@oftalmo.epm.br
Berezovsky
Adriana
A
de Castro
Danilo Dimas Monteiro
DD
Salomão
Solange Rios
SR
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D002648:Child; D005139:Eyeglasses / Q000592:standards; D005260:Female; D006296:Health Services / Q000592:standards; D006801:Humans; D007909:Lenses / Q000592:standards*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011788:Quality of Life; D011932:Reading; D012174:Retinitis Pigmentosa / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D017678:Sex Distribution; D014787:Vision Tests; D015354:Vision, Low / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D014792:Visual Acuity / Q000502:physiology*