ABSTRACT

Conclusion:

The patients with hereditary retinal dystrophy are candidates for low vision rehabilitation. In our study, low vision devices were proposed to 2/3 of the patients. It is important to refer these patients to the low vision clinics for benefit from the optical and non-optical systems.

Re­sults:

Of the 181 patients, 73 were women and 108 were men. The mean age of patients was 27.1±17.3 years at first examination. 39.2% of patients were under the age of 18 as a pediatric age group. HRDs in decreasing order of frequency were as follows: retinitis pigmentosa (35.7%), cone-rod dystrophy (22.0%), Stargardt’s disease (19.6%), cone dystrophy (17.1%), achromatopsy (4.4%), congenital stationary night blindness (0.4%), and Leber’s congenital amaurosis (0.4%). According to the ICD-10 classification, 10 patients were with mild visual impairment, 126 patients were with low vision, and 44 patients were within the category of blindness. Telescopes were recommended to 127 patients (70.1%). In our study, mean near visual acuity was 1.2±0.3 logMAR. Optical systems were proposed to 136 patients (75.1%) for near visual rehabilitation. Filter glasses were proposed to 43.6% of patients.

Ma­te­ri­als and Met­hods:

This study was conducted in Ankara University Faculty of Medicine, Ophthalmology Department of Low Vision Rehabilitation and Research Unit between January 2005 and May 2013. The diagnosis of 181 of 1841 patients referred to this unit was determined as hereditary retinal dystrophy (HRD). Patients were grouped according to their distant and near visual acuities as indicated in ICD-10 classification. The demographic data and the optical-telescopic device types were recorded. Data were presented as mean ± standard deviation (SD), number, or percent (%).

Objectives:

To examine the methods of low vision rehabilitation in patients with hereditary retinal dystrophy.