title: SKread predicts handwriting performance in patients with low vision.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess whether performance on the Smith-Kettlewell Reading (SKread) test is a reliable predictor of handwriting performance in patients with low vision.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cross-sectional study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sixty-six patients at their initial low-vision rehabilitation evaluation.
  
  
  METHODS
  The patients completed all components of a routine low-vision appointment including logMAR acuity, performed the SKread test, and performed a handwriting task. Patients were timed while performing each task and their accuracy was recorded. The handwriting task was performed by having patients write 5 5-letter words into sets of boxes where each letter is separated by a box. The boxes were 15 × 15 mm, and accuracy was scored with 50 points possible from 25 letters: 1 point for each letter within the confines of a box and 1 point if the letter was legible. Correlation analysis was then performed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Median age of participants was 84 (range 54-97) years. Fifty-seven patients (86%) had age-related macular degeneration or some other maculopathy, whereas 9 patients (14%) had visual impairment from media opacity or neurologic impairment. Median Early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Study acuity was 20/133 (range 20/22 to 20/1000), and median logMAR acuity was 0.82 (range 0.04-1.70). SKread errors per block correlated with logMAR acuity (r = 0.6), and SKread time per block correlated with logMAR acuity (r = 0.51). SKread errors per block correlated with handwriting task time/accuracy ratio (r = 0.61). SKread time per block correlated with handwriting task time/accuracy ratio (r = 0.7). LogMAR acuity score correlated with handwriting task time/accuracy ratio (r = 0.42). All p values were < 0.01.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  SKread scores predict handwriting performance in patients with low vision better than logMAR acuity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Frank Stein and Paul S. May Center for Low Vision Rehabilitation at California Pacific Medical Center.
authors.forename: Ken
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Downes
authors.affiliation: Smith-Kettlewell Eye Research Institute, San Francisco, Calif; Envision, Inc., Wichita, Kansas.
authors.forename: Laura L
authors.initials: LL
authors.lastname: Walker
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Frank Stein and Paul S. May Center for Low Vision Rehabilitation at California Pacific Medical Center; Smith-Kettlewell Eye Research Institute, San Francisco, Calif; Envision, Inc., Wichita, Kansas.. Electronic address: floridafletch@msn.com.
authors.forename: Donald C
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: Fletcher
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D005260:Female; D006236:Handwriting; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011597:Psychomotor Performance / Q000502:physiology*; D011932:Reading; D012164:Retinal Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology; D012607:Scotoma / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology; D015354:Vision, Low / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000534:rehabilitation; D014792:Visual Acuity / Q000502:physiology