Near visual function measured with a novel tablet application in patients with astigmatism

Area of Science:

• Ophthalmology
• Vision Science
• Human Factors

Background:

• Digital devices increasingly replace paper tasks, necessitating new methods to evaluate visual function.
• Traditional visual acuity metrics may not fully represent real-world functional vision, especially with digital device use.
• Astigmatic patients require effective vision correction for optimal performance on digital reading tasks.

Purpose of the Study:

• To correlate standard visual acuity and contrast metrics with functional reading ability.
• To assess real-world reading performance on a digital device using iPad-based tasks.
• To compare toric and mean spherical equivalent contact lenses in astigmatic patients.

Main Methods:

• A double-masked, cross-over study involving 34 adult participants with mild to moderate astigmatism.
• Participants were fitted with toric and spherical equivalent contact lenses in random order.
• A custom digital application measured zoom, contrast, working distance, blink rate, and reading time, alongside standard visual acuity and reading performance tests.

Main Results:

• Participant zoom adjustments correlated with visual acuity and reading speed.
• Working distance was associated with visual acuity and text zoom.
• Text contrast selection showed a negative association with zoom levels.

Conclusions:

• Real-world task performance provides a more robust assessment of visual function than standard metrics alone.
• Digital technology enables a better understanding of how vision correction options impact real-world task performance.
• Functional reading metrics and digital assessments are crucial for evaluating visual performance in modern contexts.