Use of a contact lens telescopic system in low vision patients

This study was designed to evaluate the effectiveness of a contact lens telescopic system in patients diagnosed with low vision. Fifteen white patients (mean age 60.7 years) with visual acuity between 20/60 and 20/400 (mean 20/245) were evaluated using first a conventional telescope and subsequently a contact lens telescope (CLT). Evaluation parameters were visual acuity, amplitude of visual field, and patients' satisfaction with the systems. The mean final visual acuity attained with both systems was 20/105. No differences in visual acuity between the two systems were detected. However, the visual field was significantly different with each system. Mean visual field with the conventional telescope was 22 degrees, whereas with the CLT it was 52.1 degrees. This corresponds to a reduction of 78.2% in the field of view with the conventional telescope and of 49.5% with the CLT. Therefore, the CLT was found to provide a field of view that is 136% as great as the one provided by the conventional telescope. Younger patients are specially enthusiastic about the CLT because of its improved cosmetic appearance and visual field as compared to traditional telescopes. Aged patients tend to have more difficulty in accepting and using contact lenses daily.