Assessing contrast sensitivity change in retinal diseases with use of yellow-amber NoIR glasses.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to assess change of contrast sensitivity (CS) in subjects having retinal diseases with yellow-amber no infrared (NoIR) glasses used as low vision aid (LVA). Methods: We examined CS in 82 low vision (LV) subjects having retinal diseases with Pelli Robson Chart at 1 m distance before and after wearing yellow-amber NoIR glasses. We also found type of retinal affection and macular optical coherence tomography (OCT) features. Results: The distance and near best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) was, respectively, 0.68 ± 0.17 (median = 0.70) and 0.72 ± 0.25 (median = 0.70) logmar units. The pre-LVA CS was 0.52 ± 0.29 (median = 0.3) and post- LVA was 0.52 ± 0.28 (median = 0.45) logunits (mean reduction = -0.002 ± 0.24; Median reduction = 0; P = 0.909). The pre-LVA and post-LVA CS showed a negative correlation with logmar distance BCVA [r = -0.090; P = 0.317 and r = -0.152; P = 0.090 respectively]. The pre-LVA and post-LVA CS showed a negative correlation with logmar near BCVA [r = -0.114; P = 0.207 and r = -0.054; P = 0.549 respectively]. The CS did not improve in subjects having macular degeneration, pathological myopia, hereditary maculopathy, and diabetic retinopathy. The macular OCT features like fluid, exudates, scars, drusens, traction, and hole did not significantly influence CS both at pre-LVA and post-LVA stage. Conclusion: This is the first study with yellow-amber NoIR glasses which blocks "both ultraviolet and infrared light." The subjects having macular degeneration, pathological myopia, hereditary maculopathy, and diabetic retinopathy did not improve in CS with filters. The correlation values showed that filters may improve CS in subjects having good baseline BCVA.

Role of improved distance and near visual acuity with low vision aids to enhance stereopsis in retinal diseases.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine role of improved distance and near best-corrected visual acuity (DBCVA and NBCVA) with use of magnification devices to enhance stereopsis in low vision (LV) subjects having retinal diseases. Methods: In a cross-sectional observational study without control, 84 subjects having LV due to retinal diseases were examined for an improvement of BCVA with use of magnifying low vision aids (LVAs) (2X for DBCVA and 3X for NBCVA). The stereopsis scores on titmus fly test were recorded with near refractive correction "on" and then with 3X magnification. The improvement in stereopsis for distance was however estimated through statistical correlation values. Results: The DBCVA (P < 0.001), NBCVA (P < 0.001) and stereopsis (P < 0.001) improved statistically significantly (SS) following magnifying LVA. There was no correlation between pre-LVA stereopsis and pre-LVA DBCVA (r = 0.059; P = 0.444;NSS) and post-LVA DBCVA (r = 0.054; P = 0.487;NSS); and no correlation between post-LVA stereopsis and pre-LVA DBCVA (r = 0.042; P = 0.592;NSS) and post-LVA DBCVA (r = 0.08; P = 0.920;NSS). There was no correlation between pre-LVA stereopsis and pre-LVA NBCVA (r = 0.044; P = 0.572;NSS) and no correlation between post-LVA stereopsis and pre-LVA NBCVA (r = 0.108; P = 0.165;NSS). But positive correlation between pre-LVA stereopsis and post-LVA NBCVA (r = 0.347; P < 0.001) and between post-LVA stereopsis and post-LVA NBCVA (r = 0.445; P < 0.001) was SS. Conclusion: The use of magnification as LVA improves both the BCVA and stereopsis. The increase in DBCVA with LVA improves the stereopsis for distance though it may not be SS while improvement in NBCVA with LVA enhances stereopsis for near objects in SS manner.