An international survey of optometric management of stroke survivors.

Objectives: A survey was conducted to describe the current status of optometric awareness and involvement regarding post-stroke management as literature suggests that visual impairment often goes undiagnosed and unmanaged in stroke survivors.

Materials And Methods: A questionnaire was developed by the researchers, pilot tested by 5 other optometric researchers and 15 optometrists and modified based on the feedback. Practicing optometrists were invited to complete the anonymous online survey through optometric organizations in Canada, Hong Kong, India, UK, and US.

Are Optometrists Prepared to Be Involved in Post-Stroke Rehabilitation?

Background/objectives: Stroke survivors often experience various visual consequences that impact their daily life and may benefit from visual interventions. However, some of these usually go unaddressed as optometrists are rarely included in the post-stroke care pathway. Yet, optometrists are interested in contributing to the care of these patients.

Comparing paediatric optometric vision care in Canada over a 14-year period.

Purpose: In Canada, teaching in paediatric eye care has increased in the past decade both within the optometry curriculum and as continuing education to optometrists. Paediatric vision care guidelines have also been established by North American optometric associations. This study examined whether this exposure was associated with changes in paediatric eye care in Canada over a 14-year period.

Status of Vision and Eye Care Among Patients in Rehabilitation Hospital Units: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Objectives: The prevalence of vision disorders is high among geriatric and hospital inpatient populations, yet they often go undetected, resulting in consequences such as falls or prolonged recovery time. A needs assessment study was conducted to investigate levels of vision and the potential prevalence of unmanaged/undiagnosed ocular disorders among adult inpatients in a hospital-based rehabilitation unit.

Design: Cross-sectional study.

Validation of the Waterloo Differential Visual Acuity Test (WatDAT) and Comparison With Existing Pediatric Tests of Visual Acuity.

Purpose: The new Waterloo Differential Acuity Test (WatDAT) is designed to allow recognition visual acuity (VA) measurement in children before they can typically undertake matching tests. The study purpose was to validate WatDAT in adults with normal and reduced VA.

Methods: Eighty adults (18 to <40 years of age) participated (32 normal VA, 12 reduced VA, and 36 simulated reduced VA).

Measuring recognition visual acuity in young children - testability with the Waterloo Differential Acuity Test (WatDAT).

Clinical Relevance: Visual acuity measurement is important for the detection and monitoring of eye disorders. Developing accurate and sensitive visual acuity tests suitable for young children is therefore desirable.

Background: Recognition or form visual acuity (VA), which is measured with matching in children aged 3 years and up, is more sensitive for detecting visual deficits compared to resolution VA.

The association between visual attention and body movement-controlled video games, balance and mobility in older adults.

Background: Body movement-controlled video games involving physical motion and visual attention may have the potential to train both abilities simultaneously. Our purpose was to determine the associations between performance in these games and visual attention, balance and mobility in a group of older adults. The long-term goal is to identify the optimal type of interactive games with regards to training potential.

Towards developing a test of global motion for use with Paralympic athletes.

The Paralympic classification system for visual impairment only assesses static visual acuity and static visual field despite many Paralympic sports being dynamic in nature. As a first step towards determining whether motion perception tests should be used in Paralympic classification, we assessed whether motion coherence thresholds could be measured when visual acuity or visual fields were impaired at levels consistent with the current Paralympic classification criteria. Visual acuity and visual field impairments corresponding to Paralympic classification criteria were simulated in normally sighted individuals and motion coherence thresholds were measured.

Post-stroke visual midline shift syndrome.

The state of research on the topic of visual midline shift syndrome following a cerebrovascular accident is unknown. A scoping review was conducted using the search terms of 'visual midline shift' (or equivalent) and 'cerebrovascular accident' (or equivalent). Articles were selected from eight academic and one grey literature database, and went through two levels of review, as per Arksey and O'Malley, before being deemed acceptable for inclusion.

Differential visual acuity - A new approach to measuring visual acuity.

Background: A novel type of acuity measurement, which we refer to as 'differential acuity', requires the observer to identify one unique target among three others which are identical. This is a proof of concept study aimed to determine if differential acuity is equivalent to standard measures of recognition acuity.

Methods: To create a range of visual acuity, vision was optically blurred in sixteen adults with normal visual acuity.

Can older adults' balance and mobility improve with visual attention training?

Purpose: We hypothesize that training older adults with a structured visual attention task will result in improved balance and mobility, potentially reducing their risk for falls.

Methods: Healthy older adults aged 70 + took part in the study (mean age 80.3 ± 6 years).

Development and validation of Visual Impairment as a Risk for Falls Questionnaire.

Purpose: visual impairment is associated with an increased risk of falls, yet eye care professionals are infrequently members of falls prevention clinics. The aim of this preliminary study was to validate a newly created Visual Impairment as a Risk for Falls Questionnaire intended to be used by those professionals not involved in eye care.

Methods: about 53 participants with various visual impairments known to be associated with falls and 33 participants with normal sight were contacted within 4 months of a full oculo-visual assessment and were asked the questions from the current questionnaire pertaining to their visual function.

Prevalence of vision loss among hospital in-patients; a risk factor for falls?

Purpose: Despite poor vision being a risk factor for falls, current hospital policies and practices often do not include a vision assessment at patient admission or in the hospital's incident reporting system when a fall occurs. Our purpose was to document the prevalence of vision loss in hospital general medicine units to increase awareness of poor vision as a potential risk factor for falls that occur within the hospital, and inform future preventative practice.

Methods: This cross-sectional study took place in medicine units of an acute care hospital.

A Standardized Arabic Reading Acuity Chart: The Balsam Alabdulkader-Leat Chart.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to develop and validate the first standardized Arabic continuous text near-visual-acuity chart, the Balsam Alabdulkader-Leat (BAL) chart.

Methods: Three versions of the BAL chart were created from previously validated sentences. Reading acuity (RA) and reading speed in standard-length words per minute (SLWPM) were measured for three versions of the BAL chart and three English charts (MNREAD, Colenbrander, and Radner) for 86 bilingual adults with normal vision aged 15 to 59 years.

Visual Acuity and Contrast Sensitivity Development in Children: Sweep Visually Evoked Potential and Psychophysics.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the development of visual acuity (VA) and contrast sensitivity in children as measured with objective (sweep visually evoked potential) and subjective, psychophysical techniques, including signal detection theory (SDT), which attempts to control for differences in criterion or behavior between adults and children. Furthermore, this study examines the possibility of applying SDT methods with children.

Methods: Visual acuity and contrast thresholds were measured in 12 children 6 to 7 years old, 10 children 8 to 9 years old, 10 children 10 to 12 years old, and 16 adults.

Binocular Vision Disorders and Visual Attention: Associations With Balance and Mobility in Older Adults.

Understanding which aspects of vision are related to falls is important. We examine the associations between tests of balance, mobility, fear of falling (FES-1) and aspects of vision in 72 adults aged 70+. Balance and mobility were examined using the One Legged Stance test (OLST), the Sit to Stand test (STST) and the 5 Meter Walking test (5MWT).

Improving the legibility of prescription medication labels for older adults and adults with visual impairment.

Objectives: Most current prescription labels fail to meet print guidelines, especially in print size. We therefore compared the legibility of current prescription medication labels against the legibility of prototype labels, based on current guidelines for legibility.

Method: Sample medication labels were obtained from pharmacies, and prototype medication labels were developed according to legibility guidelines from nongovernmental organizations and pharmacy organizations.

Toward developing a standardized Arabic continuous text reading chart.

Purpose: Near visual acuity is an essential measurement during an oculo-visual assessment. Short duration continuous text reading charts measure reading acuity and other aspects of reading performance. There is no standardized version of such chart in Arabic.

Value of Routine Eye Examinations in Asymptomatic Patients.

Purpose: To determine if routine eye examinations in asymptomatic patients result in spectacle prescription change, new critical diagnosis, or new management of existing conditions. We also investigate whether age and time between assessments (assessment interval) impact detection rates.

Methods: The Waterloo Eye Study (WatES) database was created from a retrospective file review of 6397 patients seen at the University of Waterloo Optometry Clinic.

A Proposed Model for Integrated Low-Vision Rehabilitation Services in Canada.

Purpose: The provision and funding of low-vision rehabilitation (LVR) are very variable across Canada. Quebec is well served by 14 government-funded rehabilitation centers. In most provinces, there are no such multidisciplinary services-optometrists offer LVR from their offices to a greater or lesser degree or undertake assessments in centers run by CNIB (formerly Canadian National Institute for the Blind).

Reprint of: Barriers to accessing low-vision care: the patient's perspective.

Objective: To review the literature regarding barriers that hinder access to low-vision (LV) care from the perspective of individuals with vision impairment.

Design: Literature review.

Methods: PubMed and Scopus were used to identify relevant cross-sectional studies of awareness of, and barriers to, LV rehabilitation.

Measuring Infant Visual Acuity with Gaze Tracker Monitored Visual Fixation.

Purpose: To validate a method of measuring grating acuity with remote gaze tracking (GT) against a current clinical test of visual acuity (VA), the Teller Acuity Cards (TACs), as part of the development of an automated VA test for infants.

Methods: Visual acuity for computer-generated horizontal square-wave gratings was determined from relative fixation time on a grating area compared with the background. In experiment 1, binocular VA was based on eye movements with a GT in 15 uncorrected myopic adults and compared with VA measured with subjective responses with the same stimuli and with the TACs.

Low-vision service provision by optometrists: a Canadian nationwide survey.

Purpose: To document the degree to which Canadian optometrists are involved in the provision of low-vision (LV) care and their referral patterns. To investigate the barriers to providing optometric low-vision services (LVS).

Methods: Practicing optometrists across Canada were randomly sampled and invited to participate in a questionnaire that included questions on personal profile, primary practice profile, levels of LV care offered, patterns of referral, and barriers to provision of LV care.