LAUSR

PRECIS Although this sample with glaucoma had preserved central vision, they presented worse reading performance compared to similarly aged controls. OBJECTIVE To determine whether patients with glaucoma with preserved central vision have impaired reading performance compared to healthy controls. METHODS A cross-sectional study of 35 patients with glaucoma and 32 similarly aged controls with visual acuity better than 0.4 logMAR in both eyes. Each participant had a detailed ophthalmological examination followed by a 5-chart reading performance test using a Portuguese version of the Minnesota Low Vision Reading Test (MNREAD). Correlation between reading performance (reading speed) and ocular parameters was investigated. RESULTS Participants had an average age of 63.0±12.6 years. In the glaucoma group, mean deviation (MD) in the better and worse eyes was -6.29±6.36▒dB and -11.08±0.23▒dB respectively. There was no significant difference in age, gender, rage, education, visual acuity or systemic co-morbidities between groups. Participants with glaucoma had significantly slower reading speeds, with an average of 83.2±25.12 words per minute (wpm) compared to 102.29±29.57▒wpm in controls (P=0.006). Reading speed was slower for all 5 charts. Odds of glaucoma increased by 1.29 (95% CI 1.07 to 1.56, P=0.009) for each 10▒wpm decrease in average reading speed, with this relationship maintained after accounting for age, schooling and visual acuity. CONCLUSIONS Patients with mild to moderate glaucoma had worse reading performance compared to similarly aged controls, despite both having preserved central vision.