Low Vision Aids to Improve the Quality of Life in Low Vision Patients

Objective: To survey the effectiveness of low vision aids (LVAs) in improveing quality of life for low vision patients. Methods: This was a prespective clinical study. Fifty-five patients with a clinical diagnosis of low vision who were required to wear far and near LVDs were selected from Eye Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University from January 2017 to February 2018 in this prospective clinical study. The low vision quality of life (LVQOL) questionnaire measured vision-related quality of life to evaluate the quality of the patients before 30 days after use of LVAs. Responses covered mobility, distance vision, lighting, psychological adjustment, reading, working ability and daily living ability. The LVQOL scores and related parameters of each group were statistically analyzed using t test and regression test. Results: Forty-four low vision patients completed the baseline and follow-up LVQOL surveys. After using the LVDs, the quality of life scores in the low vision patients increased significantly from 77.8±19.0 to 82.3±22.5 (t=4.56, P=0.001). Factors such as gender, literacy rate, learning status and vision did not affect the quality of life of patients with low vision. Conclusions: LVAs can improve the quality of life in a low vision population, regardless of age, gender or education level. Key words: low vision; low vision aids; questionnaire; low vision quality of life