Turkish Journal of
GERIATRICS

Hacettepe Üniversitesi Tıp Fakültesi, Göz Hastalıkları Anabilim Dalı Ankara The results of low vision aids in patients with age related macular degeneration (ARMD) are given and effects of factors like age, sex and education on the success of LVA are studied. 51 patients with ARMD evaluated at Retina Section of our Ophthalmology Department between August 1997- November 1999 were involved in the study. Best corrected distant visual acuity was measured with Snellen chart. Jaeger chart was used for near vision. Low vision examination was carried out for both distance and near. The mean near visual acuity before LVA was 7.4± 0.2 (Jaeger) and improved to 2.2 ± 0.2 after LVA (p=0.0001). 12 cases were given LVA for distance. The mean distant visual acuity before LVA was 0.1 ± 0.02 and improved to 0.44 ± 0.07 after LVA. No statistically significant effect of age, sex and education on the success of LVA was determined. Low vision aids seem to be an effective way of visual rehabilitation in patients with ARMD. Dependence of these patients to other people can be diminished with the use of low vision aids. Keywords : Osteoartritis, Pain, Elderly, Depression, Anxiety, Sleep disturbance