Interventions to Improve Reading Performance in Glaucoma.

PURPOSE

To evaluate whether changes to contrast, line spacing, or font size can improve reading performance in patients with glaucoma.

DESIGN

Cross-sectional study.

PARTICIPANTS

Thirty-five patients with glaucoma and 32 healthy control participants.

METHODS

A comprehensive ophthalmologic examination was performed followed by reading speed assessment using the Minnesota Low Vision Reading (MNREAD) test under a range of contrasts (10%, 20%, 30%, 40%, and 50%), line spacings (1.0, 1.5, 2.0, 2.5, and 3.0 lines), and font sizes (0.8, 0.9, 1.0, 1.1, and 1.2 logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution), for a total of 15 tests. Regression analyses were performed to examine the effect of varying test conditions on reading speed (measured in words per minute [wpm]).

RESULTS

Participants' mean age was 63.0 ± 12.6 years. Patients with glaucoma showed a visual field mean deviation in the better eye of -6.29 ± 6.35 dB. Reading speeds were significantly slower in patients with glaucoma versus control participants for 14 of the 15 MNREAD tests, despite no significant differences in age, gender, or education between groups. Increased contrast (from 10% to 50%) was associated with faster reading speed in patients with glaucoma (10.6-wpm increase per 10% increase in contrast; 95% confidence interval, 7.4-13.8 wpm; P < 0.001; R = 0.211). No significant improvement was found in reading speed with increase in font size or line spacing.

CONCLUSIONS

Patients with glaucoma showed significantly slower reading speeds than similarly aged control participants. Reading speed was improved by increasing contrast, but not by increases in line spacing or font size.