Visual rehabilitation in low vision patients with aging macular degeneration

Using optical visual aids, visual rehabilitation was performed in 14 cases (25 eyes) for low-vision patients with aging macular degeneration (AMD). With distance aids, visual acuity improvements were recorded for 24 eyes (95 percent) out of 25 eyes. Twelve eyes (48 percent) achieved vision equal to or better than 0.4. Utilizing near visual aids, the near visual acuity for all eyes (100 percent) were improved. Thirteen eyes (52 percent) received near vision equal to or better than 0.5. Ten patients were able to read No. 5 equal to or better than 0.5. Ten patients were able to read No. 5 Chinese print (corresponding visual angle is 0.67 at 30 cm of reading distance). The reading success rate was 71.4 percent. The results suggest that the application of visual aids is an effective method to improve the distance and near visual acuity of low vision patients with AMD.