Reading performance in patients with glaucoma

• Grant number: 18/15465-2
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: November 01, 2018
• End date: October 31, 2019
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Medicine
• Principal Investigator: Augusto Paranhos Junior
• Grantee: André Hiroshi Bando
• Host Institution: Escola Paulista de Medicina (EPM). Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP). Campus São Paulo. São Paulo , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Glaucoma is one of the major causes of irreversible blindness worldwide. Its no surprise, therefore, that it is a debilitating condition from the functional point of view. Many studies shows the negative impact of glaucoma in the quality of life and directly over day to day activities, such as driving and shopping. however the reading performance per se is yet to be studied using of more sophisticated means, like the eye-tracking device (ETD). Moreover, there is the necessity of other studies that search for reading differences when there is textual interventions, such as the augmentation of font size and contrast. That is why the objective of this current study is to compare reading performance between controls and glaucoma patients with and without the use of the ETD. Among the several reading tables available, we chose the Minessota Reading Test (MNREAD) as reading parameter. We will compare the reading speed of 30 glaucoma patients and 30 control participants, both groups with visual acuity better than 20/60 binocular. We will analyze variables such as reading speed, number of fixations and mean time of duration of fixation, with or without the use of textual interventions like the augmentation of font size, bigger spacement between lines e gradative augmentation of contrast. All participants shall go through complete ophthalmological exam, visual campimetry and reading procedure with the MNREAD using the ETD, after filling the term of consent.