Goals: This work aimed at presenting an original rehabilitation method based on the prismation available for patients with organic lesions of the macula. We report results obtained in our first series of patients.
Material and methods: The treatment was given to 14 patients, 7 women and 7 men, aged from 68 to 92 years, with an average age of 81.64, followed in "Low Vision" consultation, and suffering from bilateral macular diseases. All the patients with age-related macular degeneration developed retinal correspondences. They all received a bilateral prismation over their old correction. The orientation of the prisms taking into account the eccentric fixations. The criteria chosen for surveillance were binocular subjective and objective acuity, contrast sensitivity and vision of colours.
Results: For all the patients concerned, the method led to an immediate subjective improvement of the visual function. Tolerance to optical support was improved. The patients recovered better self-sufficiency in their daily life. The objective binocular for VA was improved by at least one line for 92.86% of the patients, by at least 2 lines for 42.85% and by 3 lines for 7.14%. The binocular contrast sensitivity was better for all the patients. Regarding the vision of binocular colours, the examination performance time was improved for all the patients.
Conclusions: Prismation allows optimal use of the corresponding eccentric fixation areas. It appears as an interesting new therapeutic method for patients with macular-related low vision. It is complementary to rehabilitation treatment of such patients.