title: Evaluation of a Portable Artificial Vision Device Among Patients With Low Vision.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Low vision is irreversible in many patients and constitutes a disability. When no treatment to improve vision is available, technological developments aid these patients in their daily lives.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the usefulness of a portable artificial vision device (OrCam) for patients with low vision.
  
  
  METHODS
  A prospective pilot study was conducted between July 1 and September 30, 2015, in a US ophthalmology department among 12 patients with visual impairment and best-corrected visual acuity of 20/200 or worse in their better eye.
  
  
  METHODS
  A 10-item test simulating activities of daily living was used to evaluate patients' functionality in 3 scenarios: using their best-corrected visual acuity with no low-vision aids, using low-vision aids if available, and using the portable artificial vision device. This 10-item test was devised for this study and is nonvalidated. The portable artificial vision device was tested at the patients' first visit and after 1 week of use at home.
  
  
  METHODS
  Scores on the 10-item daily function test.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Among the 12 patients, scores on the 10-item test improved from a mean (SD) of 2.5 (1.6) using best-corrected visual acuity to 9.5 (0.5) using the portable artificial vision device at the first visit (mean difference, 7.0; 95% CI, 6.0-8.0; P < .001) and 9.8 (0.4) after 1 week (mean difference from the first visit, 7.3; 95% CI, 6.3-8.3; P < .001). Mean (SD) scores with the portable artificial vision device were also better in the 7 patients who used other low-vision aids (9.7 [0.5] vs 6.0 [2.6], respectively; mean difference, 3.7; 95% CI, 1.5-5.9; P = .01).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  When patients used a portable artificial vision device, an increase in scores on a nonvalidated 10-item test of activities of daily living was seen. Further evaluations are warranted to determine the usefulness of this device among individuals with low vision.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology and Vision Science, University of California Davis Eye Center, Sacramento.
authors.forename: Elad
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Moisseiev
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology and Vision Science, University of California Davis Eye Center, Sacramento.
authors.forename: Mark J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Mannis
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living / Q000523:psychology; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D004867:Equipment Design; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010781:Photography / Q000295:instrumentation*; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011788:Quality of Life; D012682:Sensory Aids; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D015354:Vision, Low / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D014792:Visual Acuity / Q000502:physiology