Low-vision aids in age-related macular degeneration.

In spite of the many patients with low vision due to age-related macular degeneration, the year's publications on their rehabilitation are few. The most common complaint of these patients is their inability to read. For this purpose, simple optical devices, eg, overcorrection in reading glasses, hand-held or stand magnifiers, are usually best. With closed-circuit television systems, reading speed may be faster and reading time may be longer but these systems are still too expensive for most users. Results on bifocal intraocular lenses used as a Galilean telescopic system are still unconfirmed. New ideas for many technical devices suitable also for elderly patients have been presented.