Abstract

Age-related macular degeneration, the second leading cause of vision loss in Canada, affects central vision, impairing reading, mobility, and daily functioning. This contributes to increased fear and risk of falling, highlighting the need for effective rehabilitation. Current low vision rehabilitation interventions primarily target reading, such as eccentric viewing training (EVT), which teaches clients to locate and use their preferred retinal locus to improve reading. Previous research has found correlations between fixation stability and perceived and objective measures of balance. However, the current thesis examined whether an EVT intervention that improves fixation stability can also improve balance. Sixteen participants (Mage = 85.35, SD = 7.1) completed an EVT program at the Lethbridge-Layton-Mackay Rehabilitation Centre in Montreal. Pre- and post-testing included visual measures (reading performance and fixation stability), and balance measures (global balance, dynamic balance during functional gait tasks, postural stability, and perceived balance confidence). Results indicated improvement post-EVT in fixation stability (g = -1.08) and reading accuracy (g = 0.684), but not in reading speed (g = -0.018). For balance, group-level improvements were observed in global balance (g = -0.496), medial-lateral postural stability (g = -0.782), and anterior-posterior stability (g = -0.42). Although dynamic balance (g = 0.306) and total postural path length (g = -0.499) did not show statistically significant improvements, certain participants improved, suggesting clinical significance. Improving mobility through EVT could potentially reduce falls and fear of falling in older adults, fostering greater independence, and ultimately improving quality of life.