Disease progression does not appear to be the primary cause of the difference between home and clinic visual acuity measurements
THURSDAY, Aug. 25, 2022 (HealthDay News) — Visual acuity (VA) is better when tested in the clinic versus at home, according to a research letter published online Aug. 18 in JAMA Ophthalmology.
Michael D. Crossland, Ph.D., from University College London, and colleagues compared at-home and in-clinic VA using data from the next clinic visit after the home assessment (mean time, 8.8 months) to determine whether differences are due to disease progression. The analysis included 79 adults (mean age, 55 years).
The researchers found that mean VA was 0.80 logMAR (Snellen equivalent 20/125) at home and 0.75 logMAR (Snellen equivalent 20/112) in the clinic. The mean difference between the at-home and in-clinic tests was −0.056 logMAR, with no systematic change observed with level of vision.
“We hypothesized that the poorer home VA values found by ourselves and others might be due to differences in lighting levels, differences in glare or light adaptation, difficulties in understanding the test, differences in motivation without a clinician being present, or perhaps by some psychological effect of being in their own home,” the authors write.
The Home Acuity Test was developed by two of the study authors.
Abstract/Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
Urine Cell-Free RNA Shows Promise as Biomarker for Bladder Cancer 
Age-, Joint-Specific Ultrasound Reference Values Set for Healthy Joints 
Retinal Imaging Can ID Atrial Fibrillation Years Before Diagnosis 
U.S. Adults May Not Understand Their Risk for Vascular Disease 
Lower Cognitive Functioning During 60s Linked to Subsequent Stroke Risk 
Polypharmacy of Prescription Medications Increased for U.S. Older Adults 
Nearly 1 in 10 Older Adults Used Cannabis in the Past Year 
Lower Vertebral Bone Mineral Density Linked to Cognitive Decline 
.jpg)