Scientific investigation of patients' vision for clinical low vision care

Abstract

Some eye diseases and brain damage reduce patients' vision related quality of life (QOL). In Japan, the National Insurance System started the coverage of low vision care (LVC) at hospitals in 2012. Recently, LVC has become more common in ophthalmology. The aim of LVC is to regain patients' QOL along with medical treatment by explaining them about the reasons behind their low vision and providing low vision aids and local support resources etc. For clarifying patients' vision problems it need to refer to medical data and examine their vision by conducting small instant experiments. In this process basic research knowledge contributes to this clinical investigation. In particular, the findings of psychophysics experiments on reading, such as MNREAD-J, are very valuable for LVC. This essay introduces the scientific process of LVC and the contribution of basic research to the clinical treatment of LVC.