The purpose of the present study was to assess quality of life (QOL) in n-AMD patients seen in a Malaysian public hospital and to further identify visual and demographic factors that may contribute to QOL scores of these patients. Patients with any form of n-AMD in at least one eye were recruited from hospital's ophthalmology department. Bahasa Malaysia version of National Eye Institute Visual function questionnaire-25 (NEI-VFQ-25) was administered to all participants. Demographics, visual functions (VF) including best corrected distance visual acuity (BCDVA), contrast sensitivity (CS), near visual acuity (NVA) and reading speed (RS) were recorded. Eighty-six patients (Malay=26, Indian=23, Chinese=37) aged 52 to 85 years, diagnosed with n-AMD were chosen to participate. Their mean NEI-VFQ composite score (NEI-VFQ CS) was 66.91 ± 13.07. However, no significant difference in NEI-VFQ CS between gender, races and between the two sub groups of n-AMD were observed (p>0.05). NEI-VFQ CS showed a significant association with RS (correlation coefficient (ρ) =0.627), NVA (ρ =-.660), BCDVA (ρ =-.586), CS (ρ =.0.515). A linear model showed that a combination of BCDVA, NVA, CS is accounted for a significant 38 % variability of NEI-VFQ CS (R 2 =0.382, p<0.001). In conclusion, the QOL of Malaysian n-AMD patients were found to be low. Thus, the study results indicated the need of developing necessary management strategies to address this QOL issues in n-AMD patients in Malaysia. Furthermore, the present study suggested incorporating appropriate VF such as near acuity, contrast sensitivity, reading speed in clinical settings while assessing n-AMD patients as these VF explain the patient's perception about the impact of this disease.

Objective Near visual impairment (VI) is a common disability in an aging population. Near vision is crucial in activity of daily living including reading, smartphone and computer use and meal preparation. This study was conducted to determine the association between near visual acuity (VA) and contrast sensitivity (CS) with activity of daily living (ADL) among visually impaired older adults. Results A total of 208 participants aged  ≥  60 were recruited from the population-based longitudinal study on neuroprotective model for healthy longevity. Habitual near VA and CS were measured using Lighthouse near VA chart and Pelli-Robson CS chart, respectively. Lawton instrumental activities of daily living (IADL) was used to assess ADL. There are 41.8% participants with near visual impairment and 28.7% among them had IADL disability. Independent t test showed significant lower mean IADL score among visually impaired participants [t(206)  =  2.03, p  =  0.04]. IADL score significantly correlated with near VA (r  =   − 0.21, p  =  0.05) but not with CS (r  =   − 0.14, p = 0.21). Near VA (B  =   − 0.44, p  =  0.03) and age (B  =   − 0.07, p  =  0.01) significantly predicted IADL. The findings show poorer VA renders higher IADL disability, which may necessitate interventions to improve ADL among visually impaired older adults.

No abstract

In early and intermediate age related macular degeneration (ARMD), visual acuity alone has failed to explain the complete variation of vision. The aim of the present study was to determine correlation between different visual functions and retinal morphology in eyes with early and intermediate ARMD. In this single center cross sectional study, patients diagnosed as early or intermediate ARMD in at least one eye were recruited. Visual functions measured were best- corrected distance visual acuity (DVA), near vision acuity (NVA), reading speed (RS), and contrast sensitivity (CS). Parameters such as thickness (RT) and volume (RV) of the retina, outer retinal layer thickness (ORLT) and volume (ORLV), outer nuclear layer thickness (ONLT) and volume (ONLV), retinal pigment epithelium layer-Bruch’s membrane complex thickness (RPET) and volume (RPEV) were assessed employing semi-auto segmentation method of Spectralis optical coherence tomography (OCT). Twenty-six eyes were evaluated. DVA, CS, and RS showed significantly good correlation with RPET, ONLT, and ONLV, whereas NVA showed good correlation with ONLV and RPET. The present study concluded that RS, CS, NVA, and DVA represent the morphological alteration in early stages and should be tested in clinical settings. ONLT, ONLV, and RPET morphological parameters can be employed as important biomarkers in diagnosis of early to intermediate ARMD.

This study aimed to assess the visual function, reading performance, and compensatory head posture (CHP) in schoolchildren with infantile nystagmus. A total of 18 participants aged between 13 to 18 years old were divided into spectacle (n = 9) and null zone group (n = 9) based on their visual acuity. Visual acuity (LogMAR), contrast sensitivity (Pelli–Robson), reading time and rate (Tobii TX300), and CHP were measured pre and post null zone reading training. Participants in the null zone group received 10 sessions of training (5 weeks). Visual acuity and contrast sensitivity of participants in the spectacle and null zone groups were not significantly different pre and post training. Reading performance, i.e., reading time (z = −1.36; p = 0.173) and reading rate (z = −0.06; p = 0.953), of participants in the spectacle group was not significantly different after 5 weeks. Reading time (z = −2.55; p = 0.011) and reading rate (z = −2.07; p = 0.038 of participants in the null zone group showed significant improvement post training. After 5 weeks, CHP improved in six out of the nine participants (66.7%) of the null zone group and was unchanged in all participants in the spectacle group. Null zone reading training could benefit children with infantile nystagmus in improving reading performance and compensatory head posture.