title: Quantity and Quality of Vision Using Tinted Filters in Patients with Low Vision Due to Diabetic Retinopathy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the effect of tinted filters on visual acuity (VA), contrast sensitivity and patient satisfaction in diabetic retinopathy associated with low vision.
  
  
  METHODS
  In a prospective study, 51 patients with diabetic retinopathy and low vision were assessed. We chose a simple random sampling method and used the patient's files for data collection. LogMAR notations were applied for assessing VA and a contrast sensitivity chart (CSV-1000) was employed for measuring contrast sensitivity. First, measurements were performed without tinted filters and then using them. Appropriate lenses were given to the patients for 2 days, and they were questioned about their satisfaction using them in different places.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 20 male and 31 female patients with mean age of 57.3 years participated in the study. With a 527 ± 10 nm filter, mean VA improved significantly (P ≤ 0.05). Using the 527 ± 10 nm and 511 ± 10 nm filters, mean contrast sensitivity was improved significantly at 3 and 6 cycles/degree frequencies (P < 0.05). The effect of other filters on VA and contrast sensitivity was not significant. Patient satisfaction rate was generally high.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Tinted filters are able to rehabilitate low-vision patients due to diabetic retinopathy. The 527 ± 10 and 511 ± 10 nm wavelength filters improved contrast sensitivity and the 527 ± 10 nm filter improved VA to some extent. Further investigations are recommended to assess the effect of these filters in patients with other causes of low-vision.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, School of Medicine, Baqiyatallah University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Naser
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Sadeghpour
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, School of Medicine, Baqiyatallah University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Ali Agha
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Alishiri
authors.affiliation: Students' Research Committee, Baqiyatallah University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Reza
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ajudani
authors.affiliation: Students' Research Committee, Baqiyatallah University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Mohammad Hossein
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Khosravi
authors.affiliation: Department of Optometry, School of Rehabilitation, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Mohammad Aghazadeh
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Amiri
authors.affiliation: Students' Research Committee, Baqiyatallah University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Omid
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Sadeghpour
keywords: Contrast Sensitivity; Diabetic Retinopathy; Low Vision; Tinted Filters