Age-Related Macular Degeneration: Assessment and optimisation of macular function with special regard to reading and motor control ‘AMD-READ’

(QLK6-CT-2002-00214), Coordinator S. Trauzettel-Klosinski

1.1) The International Reading speed Texts (IReST)

In cooperation with native speaking linguists of each language, we developed standardized paragraphs of text to assess reading speed: International reading speed texts IReST in 20 languages. For each language a set of 10 equivalent texts is provided for repeated measurements (www. precision-vision.com).

The first 4 languages were developed in the frame of the EU-Project AMD-Read.

1.2) Parafoveal letter recognition at reduced contrast in normal aging and in patients with risk factors for AMD

We showed that parafoveal letter recognition at reduced contrast is impaired in early stages of AMD before visual acuity is involved and can detect patients on risk.

2) Reading Training for Patients with Maculopathy

(see: Training methods to improve reading and spatial orientation)

3) Prevention of secondary disorders in patients with maculopathy by visual rehabilitation

We examined the secondary disorders of patients with AMD such as depression, cognitive impairment and reduction of quality of life. We found that supply with optimal magnifying visual aids can prevent all these secondary disorders.

This project was funded by the Ministry of Social Affairs Baden-Württemberg, Kerstan Foundation and Lechler Foundation.

In a recent study, we showed that this effect can be further enhanced by specific reading training (see Lesions of the visual pathway, hemianopia, cerebral visual impairment, visual fields).

4) Evaluation of the effect of optical and electronic visual aids

We tested the effect of optical and electronic visual aids and evaluated the specific benefit for specific visual demands.

Selected publications regarding this topic

(see also complete publication list)

1. Hahn GA, Penka D Gehrlich C, Messias A, Weismann M, Hyvärinen L, Leinonen M, Feely M, Rubin G, Dauxerre C, Vital-Durand F, , Featherston S, Dietz K, Trauzettel-Klosinski S (2006) New standardised texts for assessing reading performance in four European languages. Brit J Ophthalmol 90: 480-484 https://bjo.bmj.com/content/90/4/480.long
2. Reinhard J, Messias A, Dietz K, MacKeben M, Lackmann R, Scholl HPN, Apfelstedt-Sylla E, Weber BHF, Seeliger M, Zrenner E, Trauzettel-Klosinski S (2007) Quantifying fixation in patients with Stargardt disease, Vision Research 47: 2076–2085 https://www.sciencedirect.com/journal/vision-research
3. Messias A, Reinhard J, Cruz A, Dietz K, MacKeben M, *Trauzettel-Klosinski S (2007) Eccentric fixation in Stargardt´s disease - assessed by Tuebingen Perimetry. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 48, No 12: 5815-5822 https://iovs.arvojournals.org/article.aspx?articleid=2124927 HYPERLINK
4. Nguyen NX, Weismann M, Trauzettel-Klosinski S (2009). Improvement of reading speed after providing of low vision aids in patients with age-related macular degeneration. Acta Ophthalmol. 87: 849-853 https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1111/j.1755-3768.2008.01423.x
5. Trauzettel-Klosinski S (2010) Rehabilitation for Visual Disorders. J Neuro-Ophthalmol 30: 73-84 https://journals.lww.com/jneuro-ophthalmology/pages/default.aspx
6. Trauzettel-Klosinski S, Dietz K and the IReST Study Group (2012) Standardized Assessment of Reading Performance: The new International Standardized Reading Texts IReST. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 53:5452-5461 https://iovs.arvojournals.org/article.aspx?articleid=2166061
7. Mielke A, Wirkus K, Niebler R, Eschweiler G, Nyugen NX, Trauzettel-Klosinski S (2013) Der Einfluss visueller Rehabilitation auf sekundäre depressive Störungen bei altersabhängiger Makuladegeneration - Eine randomisierte kontrollierte Pilotstudie. Ophthalmologe 110(5): 433-440 / DOI 10.1007/s00347-012-2715-8 8 https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00347-012-2715-8
8. Kortuem C, Marx T, Altpeter-Ott EK,Trauzettel-Klosinski S, *Kuester-Gruber S (2020) Comparing reading speeds for reading standardized single sentences and paragraphs in patients with maculopathy. Ophthalmic Research https://doi.org/10.1007/s00417-020-04952-w