[Evaluation of patients using an innovative low-vision aid].
OBJECTIVE
To perform a preliminary evaluation at the "Clínica Oftalmológica do Hospital das Clínicas da Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo (USP)" of an innovative equipment for low-vision developed at USP containing a reading stand and a magnifier that maintains in a stable position the reading line and focus.


METHODS
9 low-vision patients were evaluated using the above mentioned reading stand and a magnifier developed at USP comparing it with a hand magnifier of similar power taking into account the following evaluation parameters: etiology of low-vision, best corrected visual acuity for distance, patient's opinion comparing both low-vision aid resources, authors' opinion observing the patient using both low-vision aids.


RESULTS
The numerical preference for the low-vision aids was: 5 patients for the reading stand and a magnifier that maintains at a stable position the reading line and focus; 2 patients for the hand magnifier; 1 patient indifferent regarding any of the resources; 1 patient inadequate for the evaluation of the low-vision aids.


CONCLUSIONS
This preliminary study shows the preference of the majority of the patients for the reading stand and a magnifier that maintains at a stable position the reading line and focus showing that this innovative product makes reading easier; the evaluator doctor translates the patient's opinion as an expert and contributes to the improvement of the product so that it can be evaluated again in the future.
Bonatti
Fernanda Alves da Silva
FA
Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brasil. bonatti@uol.com.br
Bonatti
José Américo
JA
Sampaio
Marcos Wilson
MW
Haddad
Maria Aparecida Onuki
MA
Souza
Patricia Regina Mucédola de
PR
José
Newton Kara
NK
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D004867:Equipment Design / Q000592:standards; D006804:Ergonomics / Q000295:instrumentation; D006801:Humans; D007909:Lenses; D008875:Middle Aged; D009907:Optometry / Q000295:instrumentation*; D011932:Reading; D012682:Sensory Aids / Q000592:standards*; D015354:Vision, Low / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D014792:Visual Acuity / Q000502:physiology