Effects of ageing on reading acuity and speed in Spanish older adults

Age-related baseline data is important in clinical optometry to diagnose vision abnormalities.

The aim is to evaluate reading speed (RS) and reading acuity (RA) in an older Spanish population aged 50-80 years, as no comparative data currently exist for this important demographic using the Radner-Vissum Charts. Establishing age- and language-specific baseline data for reading performance in older adults is essential for accurate and full clinical assessments.

The Radner-Vissum Charts were administered in a well-lit room. Variables included RA, RA score, maximum RS (MAX-RS), mean RS (MEAN-RS), binocular distance-to-near best-corrected visual acuity ratio (logMAR/logRAD ratio), and critical print size (CPS). Participants were divided into three age groups in years: 50-59 (AG1), 60-69 (AG2), and 70-80 (AG3).

Ninety-seven adults with normal vision participated. RA and RA scores remained constant across each age group, while both MAX-RS and MEAN-RS significantly declined with age. CPS and logMAR/logRAD ratio values tended to increase with age. AG1 maintained a MEAN-RS of 185 words per minute (wpm) until a print size of 0.0 ± 0.1 logRAD, performing significantly better than AG2 and AG3. AG2 remained stable at 160 wpm until 0.1 ± 0.1 logRAD, while the older AG3 population experienced a sharp decline at 0.20 ± 0.08 logRAD. Significant differences were found between groups for MAX-RS, MEAN-RS, and CPS, but not for RA, RA score, or logMAR/logRAD.

A significant decline in MAX-RS and MEAN-RS occurs after the age of 60 years, although RA remains unaffected. An increased need for larger print size with advancing age is also identified. These findings are valuable for studies involving ageing populations and for applications in older individuals in clinical practice. Moreover, these findings have clinical implications throughout the entire Spanish-speaking world.