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Feasibility of the Radner Reading Charts in low-vision patients

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Abstract

Background

Being unable to read is a major problem for visually impaired patients. Since distance visual acuity (VA) does not adequately reflect reading ability, it is important to also evaluate near VA. The Radner Reading Charts (RRCs) are available to measure patients’ reading performance. The present study tested the inter-chart and test-retest reliability of the RRCs in Dutch low-vision patients (i.e., visual acuity ≥0.3 logMAR) with various eye disorders.

Methods

Thirty-eight patients read the three RRCs in random order. Then, about 1 month after the initial measurements, a test-retest procedure was performed in 15 of the 38 patients. Tested variables were reading acuity (logRAD), logRAD score, logRAD/logMAR ratio, maximum reading speed (MRS), and critical print size (CPS). Both MRS and CPS were calculated in two different ways. To determine the variability, a mixed-model analysis was used.

Results

For all variables, the largest part of the variance was explained by the individual subject (86–89%) whereas the chart accounted for only 0–0.78% of the variability. Therefore, the inter-chart and test-retest reliability was high, except for the CPS which had a poor to moderate reliability (31–62%) when calculated in the two different ways.

Conclusions

The inter-chart and test-retest results showed high reliability in patients with low vision due to various diseases; therefore, the charts are feasible to determine effects in large groups.

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Acknowledgments

The authors thank Michiel Panhuysen, Gabriëlle Janssen, and Tamara Brusee for their help in recruiting patients, measuring distance VA, and providing optimal refractive corrections.

Funding

This study was supported by a grant from ZonMw InZicht (the Netherlands Organization for Health Research and Development-InSight Society) and the Catholic Foundation for the Blind and Visually Impaired. The authors have no financial interest in the Radner Reading Charts and did not receive any royalties for its sale.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Ophthalmology, VU University Medical Center, De Boelelaan 1117, PO Box 7057, 1007 MB, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

    Marloes C. Burggraaff, Ruth M. A. van Nispen, Sharon Hoek & Ger H. M. B. van Rens

  2. EMGO Institute for Health and Care Research, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

    Marloes C. Burggraaff, Ruth M. A. van Nispen & Sharon Hoek

  3. Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

    Dirk L. Knol

  4. Department of Ophthalmology, Elkerliek Hospital, Helmond, The Netherlands

    Ger H. M. B. van Rens

Authors
  1. Marloes C. Burggraaff
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  2. Ruth M. A. van Nispen
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  3. Sharon Hoek
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  4. Dirk L. Knol
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  5. Ger H. M. B. van Rens
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Marloes C. Burggraaff.

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Data

The authors have full control of all primary data and agree to allow Graefe’s Archives for Clinical and Experimental Ophthalmology to review the data upon request.

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Burggraaff, M.C., van Nispen, R.M.A., Hoek, S. et al. Feasibility of the Radner Reading Charts in low-vision patients. Graefes Arch Clin Exp Ophthalmol 248, 1631–1637 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00417-010-1402-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00417-010-1402-1

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