Residual stereopsis in age-related macular degeneration patients and its impact on vision-related abilities: a pilot study.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the effect of residual stereopsis on vision-related abilities of low vision (LV) patients with age-related macular degeneration (AMD).


METHODS
Prospective non-randomized observational case series. Inclusion criteria included documented AMD, LV with best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) of 20/50-20/400 in the better eye, and ages between 50 and 90 years. Stereoacuity was measured using the near Frisby Stereotest. Vision related abilities were documented with the VA LV VFQ-48 questionnaire.


RESULTS
Twenty-seven subjects with mean age of 84±6 years old were recruited, of which 59.3% (16/27) were female. 59.3% (16/27) of the subjects were not able to see any stereoacuity plate, 25.9% (7/27) had stereoacuity of 340s of arc (SOA), 11.1% (3/27) had stereoacuity of 170 SOA and 3.7% (1/27) had stereoacuity of 85 SOA. The mean Overall Functional Visual Abilities (OFVA) score was significantly higher in those with stereopsis (2.25±0.99) than those without stereopsis (1.50±0.92) (P=0.028).


CONCLUSIONS
LV patients with stereopsis have better OFVA than those without. Stereopsis should be considered as a component of LV rehabilitation and considered as an outcome measure in research and clinical practice.
Low Vision Service (University Health Network Hospitals), Department of Ophthalmology and Vision Sciences, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
Kathy Y
KY
Cao
Low Vision Service (University Health Network Hospitals), Department of Ophthalmology and Vision Sciences, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Electronic address: snm1@rogers.com.
Samuel N
SN
Markowitz
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003867:Depth Perception / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008268:Macular Degeneration / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012044:Regression Analysis; D014792:Visual Acuity
Age-related macular degeneration; Degeneración macular asociada a la edad; Estereopsis; Low vision rehabilitation; Rehabilitación de la baja visión; Stereopsis