title: [Evaluation of patients using an innovative low-vision aid].
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brasil. bonatti@uol.com.br
authors.forename: Fernanda Alves da Silva
authors.initials: FA
authors.lastname: Bonatti
authors.forename: José Américo
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Bonatti
authors.forename: Marcos Wilson
authors.initials: MW
authors.lastname: Sampaio
authors.forename: Maria Aparecida Onuki
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Haddad
authors.forename: Patricia Regina Mucédola de
authors.initials: PR
authors.lastname: Souza
authors.forename: Newton Kara
authors.initials: NK
authors.lastname: José
mesh_terms: 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