UC Berkeley

Significance

Understanding longitudinal changes in why individuals frequent low-vision clinics is crucial for ensuring that patient care keeps current with changing technology and changing lifestyles. Among other findings, our results suggest that reading remains a prevailing patient complaint, with shifting priorities toward technology-related topics.

Purpose

This study aimed to understand changes in patient priorities and patient care in low vision over the past decade.

Methods

We conducted a retrospective study of examination records (2009 to 2019, 3470 examinations) from two U.S. low-vision clinics. Automated word searches summarized two properties of the records: topics discussed during the case history and types of rehabilitative devices assessed. Logistic regression was used to model the effects of examination year, patient age, patient sex, and level of visual impairment.

Results

Collapsing across all years, the most common topic discussed was reading (78%), followed by light-related topics (71%) and technology (59%). Whereas the odds of discussing reading trended downward over the decade (odds ratio, 0.57; P = .03), technology, social interaction, mobility, and driving trended upward (odds ratios, 4.53, 3.31, 2.71, and 1.95; all P 's < 0.001). The most frequently assessed devices were tinted lenses (95%). Over time, video magnifier and spectacle assessments trended downward (odds ratios, 0.64 and 0.72; P = .004, 0.04), whereas assessments of other optical aids increased. The data indicate several consistent differences among patient demographics.

Conclusions

Reading is likely to remain a prevailing patient complaint, but an increase in technology-related topics suggests shifting priorities, particularly in younger demographics. "Low-tech" optical aids have remained prominent in low-vision care even as "high-tech" assistive devices in the marketplace continue to advance.