Is the high contrast visual acuity chart a good predictor of improvement in visual acuity with low vision aids?

PURPOSE: To assess whether the objective improvement seen with HCVA chart using LVAs correlates with subjective improvement in the quality of life as measured on low vision quality of life (LVQOL) questionnaire of such patients. METHODS: This was a prospective, consecutive, observational study. Objective improvement in visual function was assessed using LVAs with high contrast LogMAR visual acuity chart for near and distance. Subjective improvement for distance was assessed using LVQOL score for “distance mobility and lighting”, whereas for near it was assessed using the LVQOL score for “near and fine work”. A total of 46 patients completed one follow-up after low vision trial and were included in the study. RESULTS: Improvement in objective visual acuity was highly significant for both near and distance (P < 0.001) with LVAs. LVQOL score improved from 65.85 to 76.83 after one of using low vision aids (P < 0.001). The improvement in LVQOL score for distance and mobility was also highly significant (2.55; P < 0.001); and so was for near and fine work (5.89; P < 0.001). However, Spearman rank correlation coefficient showed no correlation between improvement in visual acuity for distance and LVQOL score improvement for distance (r(s) = –.086; P = 0.57). For near also, improvement in acuity did not correlate with the LVQOL score improvement for near and fine work (r(s) = 0.036; P = 0.81). CONCLUSION: No statistical correlation was observed between the improvements measured by objective HCVA charts and subjective improved as perceived by the patient after use of low vision devices.