The Etiology and Pattern of Low Vision Patients in UiTM

Abstract

Introduction: Rehabilitation services for low vision patients are important to provide training of residual vision. This study reviewed the causes of visual impairment and low vision aids prescribed at the UiTM Low Vision Clinic. This study also assessed their visual improvement after prescribing low vision aids. Methods: A retrospective study was conducted at the UiTM Low Vision Clinic from January 2016 to January 2022. Results: A total of 113 low vision patients aged between 7 and 88 years old, with a mean age of 49.17±23.06 years old, were involved in this study. Half of the patients had visual acuity of less than 6/18 and is classified as moderate visual impairment. The leading causes of visual impairment were cataracts (61.1%), diabetic retinopathy (5.6%), chorioretinitis (5.6%), Leber’s Hereditary Optic Neuropathy (5.6%), Ocular Albinism (5.6%), Retinitis Pigmentosa (5.6%), nystagmus (5.6%), and keratoconus (5.6%). Less than half of the patients were prescribed low vision aids (44.4%), and the remaining patients (55.6%) were referred to an ophthalmologist. Post-intervention, 87.5% of patients showed improvement in visual acuity with low vision aids. Conclusion: Cataract is the leading cause of visual impairments in the UiTM Low Vision Clinic. The improvement in visual acuity can be seen in a majority of the patients prescribed with low vision aids. Hence, low vision aids are beneficial for low vision patients to improve their quality of life, especially in performing daily tasks.