Evaluation of a Device for Standardized Measurements of Reading Performance in a Prepresbyopic Population.

PURPOSE: Automated measurements of reading performance are required for clinical trials involving presbyopia-correcting surgery options. Repeatability of a testing device for reading (Salzburg Reading Desk) was evaluated in a prepresbyopic population.

METHODS: Subjective reading performance of 50 subjects divided into 2 age groups (23-30 years and 38-49 years) with distance-corrected eyes was investigated with different log-scaled reading charts. At study entry, refractive parameters were measured and distance visual acuity assessed. Two standardized binocular measurements were performed for each subject (32.24 ± 9.87 days apart [mean ± SD]). The repeatability of the tests was estimated using correlation coefficients, Wilcoxon signed-rank test, and Bland-Altman method.

RESULTS: The test parameters at both maximum reading rate (MRR) measurements demonstrate a strong relationship of age group 2 subjects (correlation coefficient [r] = 0.74 p = 10-4 ) and of younger subjects (age group 1: r = 0.69, p = 10-4 ). Prepresbyopic subjects of age group 2 showed moderate results for near reading distance (r = 0.67, p = 10-4 ); by contrast, younger subjects had poorer results (r = 0.55, p = 10-3 ). The Wilcoxon signed-rank test revealed agreement between measurements and Bland-Altman plots showed a wide data spread for MRR and near reading distance in both groups.

CONCLUSIONS: The device measures repeatedly selected reading performance parameters of near real world conditions, such as MRR, in prepresbyopic populations if several factors are taken into account. The option to choose preferred distance leads to more variance in measuring repeated reading performance.

TRIAL REGISTRATION: German Clinical Trials Register (DRKS) registration reference number: DRKS00000784.