Assistive apps may boost visual ability in older adults with low vision
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NEW ORLEANS — Visual assistive apps may be an important rehabilitation tool for older adults with low vision, according to Nicole Ross, OD, MSc, FAAO, from the New England College of Optometry, who presented at Academy ’23.
“Our main findings were that we find positive change scores in activity inventory that trends with the greatest change scores in the domains of reading, mobility and goals,” Ross said.
Ross and colleagues evaluated the effectiveness of three smartphone apps — SuperVision+ for magnification, Aira for real-time visual description and Seeing AI for optical character recognition — in a study of 108 participants aged 55 years and older (mean age, 72 years; 50% men) with low vision, who were randomized to one of the apps.
Participants were trained to use the apps on loaner smartphones and completed activity inventory, Beck depression inventory and SF-36 questionnaires at baseline and 3 and 6 months after app use.
According to results, most participants had a positive change in activity inventory scores from baseline to 6 months, with a greater change experienced by those who became proficient using the app.
“We did find some study app differences, with lower change scores being associated with the Seeing AI app, but overall, when asked to rate their study app, most participants rated their app as good, very good or excellent,” Ross said.
The researchers also found that higher change scores were associated with better general health scores.
“A majority of our sample was college-educated, so it’s hard to say how these results might generalize to other groups,” Ross added. “But we’re certainly looking and exploring how other socioeconomic factors may play a role.”
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Ross N, et al. Changes in self-reported visual ability of seniors with low vision following training with visual assistive smartphone apps. Presented at: Academy; Oct. 11-14, 2023; New Orleans.
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