The Role of Digital Technology in AMD
The Role of Digital Technology in AMD
This novel study was designed to examine the use of digital readers as tools in visual rehabilitation. We were able to take standardized and validated texts for reading speeds and apply them to AMD patients.
The limitation in this study was the variation in near vision among our patient population set. Many patients had only AMD in one eye, but were tested binocularly. Furthermore, although validated and standardized texts were used for reading speeds, each patient had varying degrees of correction at near vision. To account for this, we simply divided patients into three subsets based on the text size they felt most comfortable reading. This allowed us to stratify our patients according to their measured low vision.
Patients consistently read faster on the paper compared with the Sony eReader (P<0.03) in all text group sizes. The monochromatic gray scale of the eReader did not provide as much contrast when compared with the black on white displays of the Apple iPad and the standard paper. The screen of the eReader is much smaller (diagonal length of 6 in) compared with the standard paper on letter size and the Apple iPad (diagonal length of 9.7 in). This may account for why patients read slower on this device, as they constantly had to spend time scrolling through pages with larger text sizes.
Through this study, we observed that patients preferred the ease of use of paper when compared with the digital readers. This may be attributed to the patients' age and their lack of exposure to technology. However, patients did prefer the clarity of text on the Apple iPad compared with both paper and the Sony eReader. This can be attributed to its high contrast display setting.
This study has demonstrated that digital devices may have a use in visual rehabilitation for low-vision patients. Devices that have larger display screens and offer high contrast ratios will benefit AMD patients who require larger texts to read.
Discussion
This novel study was designed to examine the use of digital readers as tools in visual rehabilitation. We were able to take standardized and validated texts for reading speeds and apply them to AMD patients.
The limitation in this study was the variation in near vision among our patient population set. Many patients had only AMD in one eye, but were tested binocularly. Furthermore, although validated and standardized texts were used for reading speeds, each patient had varying degrees of correction at near vision. To account for this, we simply divided patients into three subsets based on the text size they felt most comfortable reading. This allowed us to stratify our patients according to their measured low vision.
Patients consistently read faster on the paper compared with the Sony eReader (P<0.03) in all text group sizes. The monochromatic gray scale of the eReader did not provide as much contrast when compared with the black on white displays of the Apple iPad and the standard paper. The screen of the eReader is much smaller (diagonal length of 6 in) compared with the standard paper on letter size and the Apple iPad (diagonal length of 9.7 in). This may account for why patients read slower on this device, as they constantly had to spend time scrolling through pages with larger text sizes.
Through this study, we observed that patients preferred the ease of use of paper when compared with the digital readers. This may be attributed to the patients' age and their lack of exposure to technology. However, patients did prefer the clarity of text on the Apple iPad compared with both paper and the Sony eReader. This can be attributed to its high contrast display setting.
This study has demonstrated that digital devices may have a use in visual rehabilitation for low-vision patients. Devices that have larger display screens and offer high contrast ratios will benefit AMD patients who require larger texts to read.