Date Presented 04/200/21 Forty-two older adults participated in a study that examined the impact of a task-lighting intervention on visual performance and quality of life. Task lighting significantly improved reading (reading acuity, reading speed, critical print size) and quality of life for near visual activities and role performance but not for psychosocial well-being. OTs can promote productive aging for community-based older adults with a low-cost, environmental task-lighting modification. Primary Author and Speaker: Martha Sanders Additional Authors and Speakers: Kristen A. Pickett, Heidi Wagner, and Sarah Zurawski Contributing Authors: Maria Mertzenich, Pete Brown, Samantha Gannon, and Monica Daleccio

OBJECTIVE. We sought to determine under what conditions brighter lighting improves reading performance. METHOD. Thirteen participants with typical sight and 9 participants with age-related macular degeneration (AMD) read sentences ranging from 0.0 to 1.3 logMAR under luminance levels ranging from 3.5 to 696 cd/m². RESULTS. At the dimmest luminance level (3.5 cd/m²), reading speeds were slowest at the smaller letter sizes and reached an asymptote for larger sizes. When luminance was increased to 30 cd/m², reading speed increased only for the smaller letter sizes. Additional lighting did not increase reading speeds for any letter size. Similar size-related effects of luminance were observed in participants with AMD. CONCLUSION. In some instances, performance on acuity-limited tasks might be improved by brighter lighting. However, brighter lighting does not always improve reading; the magnitude of the effect depends on the text size and the relative changes in light level.

OBJECTIVE. The objective of this article was to explore the effects of enhanced lighting on the function of people with an acquired visual deficit resulting from cerebrovascular accident (CVA) in an inpatient rehabilitation facility (IRF). METHOD. An ABAB design was used with two cases to assess how a short-term intervention involving lighting changes affected clients’ grooming performance in an IRF. Analysis consisted of scores on the grooming section of the FIM^®, times for each grooming task, and light meter readings. RESULTS. Both participants demonstrated improvements in function as measured by the FIM and in time to complete grooming tasks with enhanced lighting. CONCLUSION. These results suggest that individualized lighting can lead to improved grooming function in clients with CVA.

PURPOSE. To examine the visual status of a cohort of older adults on an orthopedic unit to determine their level of available vision to complete everyday activities in the hospital setting. METHOD. A convenience sample of 50 people was recruited. A visual history was obtained, and participants’ glasses were inspected. Distance acuity, reading acuity, and contrast sensitivity were assessed using standardized screening charts. RESULTS. Of participants, 26% did not have their glasses with them until prompted, and 85% had glasses in poor condition. When tested wearing their habitual correction, 6% had low vision, 2% were blind, 41% had reading acuities worse than 20/25, and 28% had contrast sensitivity deficits. CONCLUSION. Visual impairment is prevalent in older adults, yet visual function is not routinely screened in hospitals. Occupational therapists should routinely inquire about patients’ visual status, inspect their glasses, and encourage regular eye examinations. Failure to address vision could lead to inaccurate evaluation results.