ABSTRACT

Low vision affects millions globally, hindering daily activities like reading. Assistive technologies such as smartphone magnifying applications and spectacle magnifiers offer potential solutions, but their comparative effectiveness remains unclear. Purpose: This study aimed to assess the reading speed of low vision patients using spectacle magnifiers and smartphone magnifying applications. Methodology: A total of 21 low vision participants were recruited for this study. Participants read standardized text using spectacle magnifiers, Super Zoom (App 1), and WeZoom (App 2), with reading speeds recorded in words per minute (WPM). Statistical analyses were conducted to determine significant differences between the aids and assess correlations between reading speed, degree of low vision, and etiology. Results: The results indicated that spectacle magnifiers yielded the highest mean reading speed 49.41 WPM, followed by Super Zoom 38.46 WPM and WeZoom 36.36 WPM. A statistically significant difference was found between reading speed using spectacle magnifiers and the smartphone apps (p < 0.0001), confirming that spectacle magnifiers provided better reading performance. Subjects with mild/moderate low vision demonstrated the highest reading speeds across all aids. Albinism was the most common etiology 42.86%. User preference analysis revealed that 95.2% of subjects preferred spectacle magnifiers for both comfort and long reading sessions. Conclusion: This study concluded that spectacle magnifiers remained the most effective assistive technology for improving reading speed in low vision patients. The findings provide valuable insights for clinicians and assistive technology developers in optimizing low vision rehabilitation strategies. These findings will help explore advancements in digital magnification technology and its long-term usability for low vision patients.

Keywords: Low Vision, Reading Speed, Assistive Technologies, Super zoom, Wezoom, Spectacle Magnifiers, Rehabilitative Optometry