PURPOSE. To evaluate the relationship between reading performance and severity of disease in patients with retinitis pigmentosa (RP), assessed with routine cl inical psychophysical visual tests. METHODS. Seventy-six c...PURPOSE. To evaluate the relationship between reading performance and severity of disease in patients with retinitis pigmentosa (RP), assessed with routine cl inical psychophysical visual tests. METHODS. Seventy-six consecutive patients w ith RP (145 eyes), with reading acuity of at least 1.6 logMAR (logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution) in at least one eye, were examined. Each patient un derwent a complete ophthalmic evaluation, including visual acuity (Early Treatme nt Diabetic Retinopathy Study ETDRS charts), contrast sensitivity (Pelli-Robs on charts), visual field perimetry (Humphrey central 30-2 full-threshold progr am; Carl Zeiss Meditec, Dublin, CA), and a test of reading acuity, critical prin t size, and maximum reading speed (Minnesota Reading charts MNREAD). RESULTS. Reading acuity was 1.0 logMAR or more in the better eye of all but six (92%) pa tients. Maximum reading speed was better than 100 words per minute in the better eye of 59 (78%) subjects. Moderate to severe reading impairment, defined as re ading acuity of 0.4 logMAR or worse, was observed in the better eye of 47 (62%) patients. EDT RS visual acuity of 0.3 logMAR (20/40)-or worse was 89%sensitive and 66%speci fic when used as a criterion to define reading impairment. Contrast sensitivity and visual acuity correlated significantly with all three reading components, wh ereas mean light sensitivity in the central visual field (6°) demonstrated a hi gher correlation with maximum reading speed. The number of years elapsed since t he diagnosis of RP was a strong negative predictor of reading performance when c linical visual tests were taken into account, whereas a better reading ability c haracterized the patients with RP who had a higher level of education. A reduced reading speed with larger print size was found in 30 eyes (21%). This correlat ed with central light sensitivity, as it was more common among eyes with a mean sensitivity of< 10 dB. CONCLUSIONS. The reading performance of most patients wit h RP is only moderately impaired. It correlates with contrast sensitivity, visua l acuity, and visual field. It should be assessed in all cases, as disability ca n ensue, even when visual acuity is preserved. In patients with RP with poor rea ding performance, there is little potential for high-magnification devices beca use visual field constriction affects the reading rate.展开更多
文摘PURPOSE. To evaluate the relationship between reading performance and severity of disease in patients with retinitis pigmentosa (RP), assessed with routine cl inical psychophysical visual tests. METHODS. Seventy-six consecutive patients w ith RP (145 eyes), with reading acuity of at least 1.6 logMAR (logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution) in at least one eye, were examined. Each patient un derwent a complete ophthalmic evaluation, including visual acuity (Early Treatme nt Diabetic Retinopathy Study ETDRS charts), contrast sensitivity (Pelli-Robs on charts), visual field perimetry (Humphrey central 30-2 full-threshold progr am; Carl Zeiss Meditec, Dublin, CA), and a test of reading acuity, critical prin t size, and maximum reading speed (Minnesota Reading charts MNREAD). RESULTS. Reading acuity was 1.0 logMAR or more in the better eye of all but six (92%) pa tients. Maximum reading speed was better than 100 words per minute in the better eye of 59 (78%) subjects. Moderate to severe reading impairment, defined as re ading acuity of 0.4 logMAR or worse, was observed in the better eye of 47 (62%) patients. EDT RS visual acuity of 0.3 logMAR (20/40)-or worse was 89%sensitive and 66%speci fic when used as a criterion to define reading impairment. Contrast sensitivity and visual acuity correlated significantly with all three reading components, wh ereas mean light sensitivity in the central visual field (6°) demonstrated a hi gher correlation with maximum reading speed. The number of years elapsed since t he diagnosis of RP was a strong negative predictor of reading performance when c linical visual tests were taken into account, whereas a better reading ability c haracterized the patients with RP who had a higher level of education. A reduced reading speed with larger print size was found in 30 eyes (21%). This correlat ed with central light sensitivity, as it was more common among eyes with a mean sensitivity of< 10 dB. CONCLUSIONS. The reading performance of most patients wit h RP is only moderately impaired. It correlates with contrast sensitivity, visua l acuity, and visual field. It should be assessed in all cases, as disability ca n ensue, even when visual acuity is preserved. In patients with RP with poor rea ding performance, there is little potential for high-magnification devices beca use visual field constriction affects the reading rate.