Schütt F, Bruckner T, Schäfer K, Lehnhoff D, Rudofsky G, Kasperk C, Nawroth P, Auffarth GU. [Fundus screening by medical technicians].
Ophthalmologe 2013;
110:154-9. [PMID:
22903147 DOI:
10.1007/s00347-012-2649-1]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/28/2022]
Abstract
Ocular fundus photography allows detection of both ocular and systemic diseases. This study investigated the efficacy of a broad screening in a department of internal medicine using nonmydriatic digital fundus photography. For 8 weeks a medical technician was trained in using the camera as well as interpreting the photographs. The medical technician and an ophthalmologist evaluated the fundus photographs separately by using a self-developed questionnaire. The fundus camera was user-friendly and after several weeks of adjustment and practical application the medical technician was able to detect the majority of pathological fundus photographs. Out of 218 patients examined 148 (68%) were identified as pathological by the medical technician and 163 (75%) by the ophthalmologist (p = 0.0003). The medical technician missed 15 (7%) patients. Furthermore the diagnoses made by the medical technician were faulty. In summary an ophthalmological screening by a medical technician is feasible but the diagnosis still remains the responsibility of ophthalmologists. Such a compromise could facilitate the examination of a large number of patients and disclose previously unrecognized diseases.
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