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Shape of magnifiers affects controllability in children with visual impairment
Author(s) -
LiebrandSchurink Joyce,
Boonstra F. Nienke,
Rens Ger H. M. B.,
Cillessen Antonius H. N.,
Meulenbroek Ruud G. J.,
Cox Ralf F. A.
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
acta ophthalmologica
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.534
H-Index - 87
eISSN - 1755-3768
pISSN - 1755-375X
DOI - 10.1111/aos.13138
Subject(s) - visual impairment , controllability , sight , dome (geology) , object (grammar) , perspective (graphical) , psychology , audiology , medicine , physics , mathematics , computer science , optics , artificial intelligence , geometry , geology , neuroscience , paleontology
Purpose This study aimed to examine the controllability of cylinder‐shaped and dome‐shaped magnifiers in young children with visual impairment. Methods This study investigates goal‐directed arm movements in low‐vision aid use (stand and dome magnifier‐like object) in a group of young children with visual impairment ( n = 56) compared to a group of children with normal sight ( n = 66). Children with visual impairment and children with normal sight aged 4–8 years executed two types of movements (cyclic and discrete) in two orientations (vertical or horizontal) over two distances (10 cm and 20 cm) with two objects resembling the size and shape of regularly prescribed stand and dome magnifiers. Results The visually impaired children performed slower movements than the normally sighted children. In both groups, the accuracy and speed of the reciprocal aiming movements improved significantly with age. Surprisingly, in both groups, the performance with the dome‐shaped object was significantly faster (in the 10 cm condition and 20 cm condition with discrete movements) and more accurate (in the 20 cm condition) than with the stand‐shaped object. Conclusion From a controllability perspective, this study suggests that it is better to prescribe dome‐shaped than cylinder‐shaped magnifiers to young children with visual impairment.