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Hogg RE, Wickens R, O'Connor S, Gidman E, Ward E, Peto T, Burton BJL, Knox P, Lotery AJ, Sivaprasad S, Donnelly M, Rogers CA, Reeves BC. Inequalities in Uptake and Use of Digital Applications for Home-Monitoring of Neovascular Age-Related Macular Degeneration in an Elderly Visually Impaired Population: The MONARCH Study. Transl Vis Sci Technol 2024; 13:2. [PMID: 38427348 PMCID: PMC10913936 DOI: 10.1167/tvst.13.3.2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/04/2023] [Accepted: 01/08/2024] [Indexed: 03/02/2024] Open
Abstract
Purpose To describe inequalities in the Monitoring for Neovascular Age-related Macular Degeneration Reactivation at Home (MONARCH) diagnostic test accuracy study for: recruitment; participants' ability to self-test; and adherence to testing using digital applications during follow-up. Methods Home-monitoring vision tests included two tests implemented as software applications (apps: MyVisionTrack and MultiBit) on an iPod Touch device. Patients were provided with all hardware required to participate (iPod and MIFI device) and trained to use the apps. Regression models estimated associations of age, sex, Index of Multiple Deprivation, strata of time since first diagnosis, and baseline visual acuity at study entry on outcomes of willingness to participate, ability to perform tests, and adherence to weekly testing. Results A minority of patients who were approached were willing-in-principle to participate. Increasing age was associated with being unwilling-in-principle to participate. Patients from the most deprived areas had a 47% decrease in odds of being willing compared to those from the middle quintile deprived areas (odds ratio, 0.53; 95% confidence interval = 0.32, 0.88). Increasing age and worse deprivation were not consistently associated either with ability to self-monitor with the index tests, or adherence to weekly testing. Conclusions Associations of increasing age and worse deprivation index were associated with unwillingness-in-principle to participate despite the provision of hardware' highlighting the potential for inequality with interventions of the kind evaluated. Translational Relevance The clear evidence of inequalities in participation should prompt future research on ways to encourage adoption of mobile health technologies by underserved populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruth E. Hogg
- Centre for Public Health, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, UK
| | - Robin Wickens
- Bristol Trials Centre, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
- Southampton Clinical Trials Unit, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK
| | - Sean O'Connor
- Centre for Public Health, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, UK
- Institute of Nursing and Health Research, Ulster University, Londonderry, UK
| | - Eleanor Gidman
- Bristol Trials Centre, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
| | - Elizabeth Ward
- Bristol Trials Centre, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
| | - Tunde Peto
- Centre for Public Health, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, UK
| | | | - Paul Knox
- University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK
| | - Andrew J. Lotery
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK
| | - Sobha Sivaprasad
- NIHR Moorfields Biomedical Research Centre, Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK
| | - Michael Donnelly
- Centre for Public Health, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, UK
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Balaskas K, Drawnel F, Khanani AM, Knox PC, Mavromaras G, Wang YZ. Home vision monitoring in patients with maculopathy: current and future options for digital technologies. Eye (Lond) 2023; 37:3108-3120. [PMID: 36973405 PMCID: PMC10042418 DOI: 10.1038/s41433-023-02479-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2022] [Revised: 01/25/2023] [Accepted: 02/28/2023] [Indexed: 03/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Patients with macular pathology, including that caused by age-related macular degeneration and diabetic macular oedema, must attend frequent in-clinic monitoring appointments to detect onset of disease activity requiring treatment and to monitor progression of existing disease. In-person clinical monitoring places a significant burden on patients, caregivers and healthcare systems and is limited in that it only provides clinicians with a snapshot of the patient's disease status. The advent of remote monitoring technologies offers the potential for patients to test their own retinal health at home in collaboration with clinicians, reducing the need for in-clinic appointments. In this review we discuss visual function tests, both existing and novel, that have the potential for remote use and consider their suitability for discriminating the presence of disease and progression of disease. We then review the clinical evidence supporting the use of mobile applications for monitoring of visual function from clinical development through to validation studies and real-world implementation. This review identified seven app-based visual function tests: four that have already received some form of regulatory clearance and three under development. The evidence included in this review shows that remote monitoring offers great potential for patients with macular pathology to monitor their condition from home, reducing the need for burdensome clinic visits and expanding clinicians' understanding of patients' retinal health beyond traditional clinical monitoring. In order to instil confidence in the use of remote monitoring in both patients and clinicians further longitudinal real-world studies are now warranted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Konstantinos Balaskas
- Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK.
- Institute of Ophthalmology, University College London, London, UK.
| | | | - Arshad M Khanani
- The University of Nevada, Reno School of Medicine, Reno, NV, USA
- Sierra Eye Associates, Reno, NV, USA
| | - Paul C Knox
- Department of Eye and Vision Science, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK
| | | | - Yi-Zhong Wang
- Retina Foundation of the Southwest, Dallas, TX, USA
- Department of Ophthalmology, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
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3
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O’Connor SR, Treanor C, Ward E, Wickens RA, O’Connell A, Culliford LA, Rogers CA, Gidman EA, Peto T, Knox PC, Burton BJL, Lotery AJ, Sivaprasad S, Reeves BC, Hogg RE, Donnelly M. Patient Acceptability of Home Monitoring for Neovascular Age-Related Macular Degeneration Reactivation: A Qualitative Study. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 19:13714. [PMID: 36294292 PMCID: PMC9603709 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph192013714] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2022] [Revised: 10/19/2022] [Accepted: 10/19/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD) is a chronic, progressive condition and the commonest cause of visual disability in older adults. This study formed part of a diagnostic test accuracy study to quantify the ability of three index home monitoring (HM) tests (one paper-based and two digital tests) to identify reactivation in nAMD. The aim of this qualitative research was to investigate patients' or participants' views about acceptability and explore adherence to weekly HM. Semi-structured interviews were held with 78/297 participants (26%), with close family members (n = 11) and with healthcare professionals involved in training participants in HM procedures (n = 9) (n = 98 in total). A directed thematic analytical approach was applied to the data using a deductive and inductive coding framework informed by theories of technology acceptance. Five themes emerged related to: 1. The role of HM; 2. Suitability of procedures and instruments; 3. Experience of HM; 4. Feasibility of HM in usual practice; and 5. Impediments to patient acceptability of HM. Various factors influenced acceptability including a patient's understanding about the purpose of monitoring. While initial training and ongoing support were regarded as essential for overcoming unfamiliarity with use of digital technology, patients viewed HM as relatively straightforward and non-burdensome. There is a need for further research about how use of performance feedback, level of support and nature of tailoring might facilitate further the implementation of routinely conducted HM. Home monitoring was acceptable to patients and they recognised its potential to reduce clinic visits during non-active treatment phases. Findings have implications for implementation of digital HM in the care of older people with nAMD and other long-term conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Seán R. O’Connor
- School of Psychology, Queen’s University of Belfast, Belfast BT7 1NN, UK
| | - Charlene Treanor
- Centre for Public Health, Queen’s University of Belfast, Belfast BT12 6BA, UK
| | - Elizabeth Ward
- Bristol Trials Centre (CTEU), University of Bristol, Bristol Royal Infirmary, Bristol BS2 8HW, UK
| | - Robin A. Wickens
- Bristol Trials Centre (CTEU), University of Bristol, Bristol Royal Infirmary, Bristol BS2 8HW, UK
- Southampton Clinical Trials Unit, University of Southampton, University Road, Southampton SO17 1BJ, UK
| | - Abby O’Connell
- Exeter Clinical Trials Unit (EXECTU), University of Exeter, St. Lukes Campus, Exeter EX1 2LT, UK
| | - Lucy A. Culliford
- Bristol Trials Centre (CTEU), University of Bristol, Bristol Royal Infirmary, Bristol BS2 8HW, UK
| | - Chris A. Rogers
- Bristol Trials Centre (CTEU), University of Bristol, Bristol Royal Infirmary, Bristol BS2 8HW, UK
| | - Eleanor A. Gidman
- Bristol Trials Centre (CTEU), University of Bristol, Bristol Royal Infirmary, Bristol BS2 8HW, UK
| | - Tunde Peto
- Centre for Public Health, Queen’s University of Belfast, Belfast BT12 6BA, UK
| | - Paul C. Knox
- Department of Eye and Vision Science, University of Liverpool, Liverpool L7 8TX, UK
| | | | - Andrew J. Lotery
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton, Southampton SO16 6YD, UK
| | - Sobha Sivaprasad
- NIHR Moorfields Biomedical Research Centre, Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, London EC1V 2PD, UK
| | - Barnaby C. Reeves
- Bristol Trials Centre (CTEU), University of Bristol, Bristol Royal Infirmary, Bristol BS2 8HW, UK
| | - Ruth E. Hogg
- Centre for Public Health, Queen’s University of Belfast, Belfast BT12 6BA, UK
| | - Michael Donnelly
- Centre for Public Health, Queen’s University of Belfast, Belfast BT12 6BA, UK
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Wong TY, Lanzetta P, Bandello F, Eldem B, Navarro R, Lövestam-Adrian M, Loewenstein A. CURRENT CONCEPTS AND MODALITIES FOR MONITORING THE FELLOW EYE IN NEOVASCULAR AGE-RELATED MACULAR DEGENERATION: An Expert Panel Consensus. Retina 2021; 40:599-611. [PMID: 32032258 PMCID: PMC7099845 DOI: 10.1097/iae.0000000000002768] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Neovascular age-related macular degeneration in one eye is a major risk factor for developing neovascular age-related macular degeneration in the fellow eye; effective monitoring is therefore critical. This review summarizes existing and developing methods to monitor the fellow eye of patients with unilateral neovascular age-related macular degeneration and provides guidance for patients and clinicians. The presence of neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD) in one eye is a major risk factor for the development of disease in the fellow eye. Several methods exist to help physicians monitor the fellow eye, with new technologies becoming increasingly available.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tien Yin Wong
- Singapore Eye Research Institute, Singapore National Eye Centre, Duke-NUS Medical School, National University of Singapore, Singapore
| | - Paolo Lanzetta
- Department of Medicine-Ophthalmology, University of Udine, Udine, Italy
| | - Francesco Bandello
- Department of Ophthalmology, Vita-Salute University, Scientific Institute San Raffaele, Milan, Italy
| | - Bora Eldem
- Department of Ophthalmology, Hacettepe University, Ankara, Turkey
| | - Rafael Navarro
- Retina and Vitreous Department, Institute of Ocular Microsurgery, Barcelona, Spain
| | | | - Anat Loewenstein
- Division of Ophthalmology, Tel Aviv Medical Center, Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
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5
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Cohen AB, Nahed BV. The Digital Neurologic Examination. Digit Biomark 2021; 5:114-126. [PMID: 34056521 DOI: 10.1159/000515577] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2021] [Accepted: 03/01/2021] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Digital health has been rapidly thrust into the forefront of care delivery. Poised to extend the clinician's reach, a new set of examination tools will redefine neurologic and neurosurgical care, serving as the basis for the digital neurologic examination. We describe its components and review specific technologies, which move beyond traditional video-based telemedicine encounters and include separate digital tools. A future suite of these clinical assessment technologies will blur the lines between history taking, examination, and remote monitoring. Prior to full-scale implementation, however, much more investigation is needed. Because of the nascent state of the technologies, researchers, clinicians, and developers should establish digital neurologic examination requirements in order to maximize its impact.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adam B Cohen
- Department of Neurology, The Johns Hopkins Hospital, Baltimore, Maryland, USA.,Health Technologies, Army Medical Response, National Health Mission Area, The Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Lab, Laurel, Maryland, USA
| | - Brain V Nahed
- Department of Neurosurgery, The Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
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6
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Ward E, Wickens RA, O'Connell A, Culliford LA, Rogers CA, Gidman EA, Peto T, Knox PC, Burton BJL, Lotery AJ, Sivaprasad S, Donnelly M, Treanor C, Hogg RE, Reeves BC. Monitoring for neovascular age-related macular degeneration (AMD) reactivation at home: the MONARCH study. Eye (Lond) 2020; 35:592-600. [PMID: 32367004 PMCID: PMC8027627 DOI: 10.1038/s41433-020-0910-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2019] [Revised: 04/17/2020] [Accepted: 04/17/2020] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
AIMS This study aims to quantify the diagnostic test-accuracy of three visual function self-monitoring tests for detection of active disease in patients with neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD) when compared with usual care. An integrated qualitative study will investigate the acceptability of these home-based testing strategies. METHODS All consenting participants are provided with an equipment pack containing an iPod touch with two vision test applications installed and a paper journal of reading tests. Participants self-monitor their vision at home each week with all three tests for 12-18 months. Usual care continues over this period. Key eligibility criteria are: age ≥50 years; at least one eye with AMD with ≥6-≤42 months since first AMD treatment; and vision not worse than Snellen 6/60, LogMAR 1.04 or 33 letters. The primary outcome, and reference standard, is diagnosis of active disease during usual care monitoring in the Hospital Eye Service. Secondary outcomes include duration of study participation, ability of participants to do the tests, adherence to weekly testing and acceptability of the tests to participants. CONCLUSIONS Recruitment is in progress at five NHS centres. Challenges in procuring equipment, setting up the devices and transporting devices containing lithium batteries to participating sites delayed the start of recruitment. The study will describe the performance of the tests self-administered at home in detecting active disease compared to usual care monitoring. It will also describe the feasibility of the NHS implementing patient-administered electronic tests or similar applications at home for monitoring health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elizabeth Ward
- Bristol Trials Centre (CTEU), University of Bristol, Bristol Royal Infirmary, Bristol, BS2 8HW, UK
| | - Robin A Wickens
- Bristol Trials Centre (CTEU), University of Bristol, Bristol Royal Infirmary, Bristol, BS2 8HW, UK
| | - Abby O'Connell
- Bristol Trials Centre (CTEU), University of Bristol, Bristol Royal Infirmary, Bristol, BS2 8HW, UK
| | - Lucy A Culliford
- Bristol Trials Centre (CTEU), University of Bristol, Bristol Royal Infirmary, Bristol, BS2 8HW, UK
| | - Chris A Rogers
- Bristol Trials Centre (CTEU), University of Bristol, Bristol Royal Infirmary, Bristol, BS2 8HW, UK
| | - Eleanor A Gidman
- Bristol Trials Centre (CTEU), University of Bristol, Bristol Royal Infirmary, Bristol, BS2 8HW, UK
| | - Tunde Peto
- Centre for Public Health, Queen's University of Belfast, Belfast, BT12 6BA, UK
| | - Paul C Knox
- Department of Eye and Vision Science, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, L7 8TX, UK
| | - Benjamin J L Burton
- James Paget University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Norfolk, NR31 6LA, UK
| | - Andrew J Lotery
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton, Southampton, SO16 6YD, UK
| | - Sobha Sivaprasad
- NIHR Moorfields Biomedical Research Centre, Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, London, EC1V 2PD, UK
| | - Michael Donnelly
- Centre for Public Health, Queen's University of Belfast, Belfast, BT12 6BA, UK
| | - Charlene Treanor
- Centre for Public Health, Queen's University of Belfast, Belfast, BT12 6BA, UK
| | - Ruth E Hogg
- Centre for Public Health, Queen's University of Belfast, Belfast, BT12 6BA, UK.
| | - Barnaby C Reeves
- Bristol Trials Centre (CTEU), University of Bristol, Bristol Royal Infirmary, Bristol, BS2 8HW, UK.
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7
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Jones PR, Philippin H, Makupa WU, Burton MJ, Crabb DP. Severity of Visual Field Loss at First Presentation to Glaucoma Clinics in England and Tanzania. Ophthalmic Epidemiol 2019; 27:10-18. [PMID: 31517561 DOI: 10.1080/09286586.2019.1661499] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Purpose: To compare severity of visual field (VF) loss at first presentation in glaucoma clinics in England and Tanzania.Methods: Large archives of VF records from automated perimetry were used to retrospectively examine vision loss at first presentation in glaucoma clinics in Tanzania (N = 1,502) and England (N = 9,264). Mean deviation (MD) of the worse eye at the first hospital visit was used as an estimate of detectable VF loss severity.Results: In Tanzania, 44.7% {CI95%: 42.2, 47.2} of patients presented with severe VF loss (< -20 dB), versus 4.6% {4.1, 5.0} in England. If we consider late presentation to also include cases of advanced loss (-12.01 dB to -20 dB), then the proportion of patients presenting late was 58.1% {55.6, 60.6} and 14.0% {13.3, 14.7}, respectively. The proportion of late presentations was greater in Tanzania at all ages, but the difference was particularly pronounced among working-age adults, with 50.3% {46.9, 53.7} of 18-65-year-olds presenting with advanced or severe VF loss, versus 10.2% {9.3, 11.3} in England. In both countries, men were more likely to present late than women.Conclusions: Late presentation of glaucoma is a problem in England, and an even greater challenge in Tanzania. Possible solutions are discussed, including increased community eye-care, and a more proactive approach to case finding through the use of disruptive new technologies, such as low-cost, portable diagnostic aids.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pete R Jones
- Division of Optometry and Visual Science, School of Health Science, City, University of London, London, England
| | - Heiko Philippin
- International Centre for Eye Health, Faculty of Infectious & Tropical Diseases, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK.,Department of Ophthalmology, Kilimanjaro Christian Medical Centre, Moshi, Tanzania.,Eye Center, University Hospital Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - William U Makupa
- Department of Ophthalmology, Kilimanjaro Christian Medical Centre, Moshi, Tanzania
| | - Matthew J Burton
- International Centre for Eye Health, Faculty of Infectious & Tropical Diseases, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | - David P Crabb
- Division of Optometry and Visual Science, School of Health Science, City, University of London, London, England
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8
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Jones PR, Smith ND, Bi W, Crabb DP. Portable Perimetry Using Eye-Tracking on a Tablet Computer-A Feasibility Assessment. Transl Vis Sci Technol 2019; 8:17. [PMID: 30740267 PMCID: PMC6364754 DOI: 10.1167/tvst.8.1.17] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2018] [Accepted: 11/22/2018] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Purpose Visual field (VF) examination by standard automated perimetry (SAP) is an important method of clinical assessment. However, the complexity of the test, and its use of bulky, expensive equipment makes it impractical for case-finding. We propose and evaluate a new approach to paracentral VF assessment that combines an inexpensive eye-tracker with a portable tablet computer (“Eyecatcher”). Methods Twenty-four eyes from 12 glaucoma patients, and 12 eyes from six age-similar controls were examined. Participants were tested monocularly (once per eye), with both the novel Eyecatcher test and traditional SAP (HFA SITA standard 24-2). For Eyecatcher, the participant's task was to simply to look at a sequence of fixed-luminance dots, presented relative to the current point of fixation. Start and end fixations were used to determine locations where stimuli were seen/unseen, and to build a continuous map of sensitivity loss across a VF of approximately 20°. Results Eyecatcher was able to clearly separate patients from controls, and the results were consistent with those from traditional SAP. In particular, mean Eyecatcher scores were strongly correlated with mean deviation scores (r2 = 0.64, P < 0.001), and there was good concordance between corresponding VF locations (∼84%). Participants reported that Eyecatcher was more enjoyable, easier to perform, and less tiring than SAP (all P < 0.001). Conclusions Portable perimetry using an inexpensive eye-tracker and a tablet computer is feasible, although possible means of improvement are suggested. Translational Relevance Such a test could have significant utility as a case finding device.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pete R Jones
- Division of Optometry and Visual Science, School of Health Sciences, City, University of London, London, UK
| | - Nicholas D Smith
- Division of Optometry and Visual Science, School of Health Sciences, City, University of London, London, UK
| | - Wei Bi
- Division of Optometry and Visual Science, School of Health Sciences, City, University of London, London, UK
| | - David P Crabb
- Division of Optometry and Visual Science, School of Health Sciences, City, University of London, London, UK
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Mohammadpour M, Heidari Z, Mirghorbani M, Hashemi H. Smartphones, tele-ophthalmology, and VISION 2020. Int J Ophthalmol 2017; 10:1909-1918. [PMID: 29259912 PMCID: PMC5733521 DOI: 10.18240/ijo.2017.12.19] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2017] [Accepted: 09/05/2017] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Telemedicine is an emerging field in recent medical achievements with rapid development. The "smartphone" availability has increased in both developed and developing countries even among people in rural and remotes areas. Tele-based services can be used for screening ophthalmic diseases and also monitoring patients with known diseases. Electronic ophthalmologic records of the patients including captured images by smartphones from anterior and posterior segments of the eye will be evaluated by ophthalmologists, and if patients require further evaluations, they will be referred to experts in the relevant field. Eye diseases such as cataract, glaucoma, age-related macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, and retinopathy of prematurity are the most common causes of blindness in many countries and beneficial use of teleophthalmology with smartphones will be a good way to achieve the aim of VISION 2020 all over the world. Numerous studies have shown that teleophthalmology is similar to the conventional eye care system in clinical outcomes and even provides more patient satisfaction as it saves time and cost. This review explains how teleophthalmology helps to improve patient outcomes through smartphones.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mehrdad Mohammadpour
- Farabi Eye Hospital, Ophthalmology Department and Eye Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran 1336616351, Iran
- Noor Ophthalmology Research Center, Noor Eye Hospital, Tehran 1968653111, Iran
| | - Zahra Heidari
- Noor Ophthalmology Research Center, Noor Eye Hospital, Tehran 1968653111, Iran
- Department of Rehabilitation Science, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari 4815733971, Iran
| | - Masoud Mirghorbani
- Farabi Eye Hospital, Ophthalmology Department and Eye Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran 1336616351, Iran
| | - Hassan Hashemi
- Noor Research Center for Ophthalmic Epidemiology, Noor Eye Hospital, Tehran 1968653111, Iran
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Buechi R, Faes L, Bachmann LM, Thiel MA, Bodmer NS, Schmid MK, Job O, Lienhard KR. Evidence assessing the diagnostic performance of medical smartphone apps: a systematic review and exploratory meta-analysis. BMJ Open 2017; 7:e018280. [PMID: 29247099 PMCID: PMC5735404 DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2017-018280] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/04/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The number of mobile applications addressing health topics is increasing. Whether these apps underwent scientific evaluation is unclear. We comprehensively assessed papers investigating the diagnostic value of available diagnostic health applications using inbuilt smartphone sensors. METHODS Systematic Review-MEDLINE, Scopus, Web of Science inclusive Medical Informatics and Business Source Premier (by citation of reference) were searched from inception until 15 December 2016. Checking of reference lists of review articles and of included articles complemented electronic searches. We included all studies investigating a health application that used inbuilt sensors of a smartphone for diagnosis of disease. The methodological quality of 11 studies used in an exploratory meta-analysis was assessed with the Quality Assessment of Diagnostic Accuracy Studies 2 tool and the reporting quality with the 'STAndards for the Reporting of Diagnostic accuracy studies' (STARD) statement. Sensitivity and specificity of studies reporting two-by-two tables were calculated and summarised. RESULTS We screened 3296 references for eligibility. Eleven studies, most of them assessing melanoma screening apps, reported 17 two-by-two tables. Quality assessment revealed high risk of bias in all studies. Included papers studied 1048 subjects (758 with the target conditions and 290 healthy volunteers). Overall, the summary estimate for sensitivity was 0.82 (95 % CI 0.56 to 0.94) and 0.89 (95 %CI 0.70 to 0.97) for specificity. CONCLUSIONS The diagnostic evidence of available health apps on Apple's and Google's app stores is scarce. Consumers and healthcare professionals should be aware of this when using or recommending them. PROSPERO REGISTRATION NUMBER 42016033049.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rahel Buechi
- Eye Clinic, Cantonal Hospital of Lucerne, Lucerne, Switzerland
| | - Livia Faes
- Medignition Inc., Research Consultants, Zurich, Switzerland
| | | | - Michael A Thiel
- Eye Clinic, Cantonal Hospital of Lucerne, Lucerne, Switzerland
| | | | - Martin K Schmid
- Eye Clinic, Cantonal Hospital of Lucerne, Lucerne, Switzerland
| | - Oliver Job
- Eye Clinic, Cantonal Hospital of Lucerne, Lucerne, Switzerland
| | - Kenny R Lienhard
- Department of Information Systems, Faculty of Business and Economics, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
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11
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Sim PY, Gajree S, Dhillon B, Borooah S. Investigation of time to first presentation and extrahospital factors in the treatment of neovascular age-related macular degeneration: a retrospective cross-sectional study. BMJ Open 2017; 7:e017771. [PMID: 29229653 PMCID: PMC5778287 DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2017-017771] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES To assess the time from symptom onset to treatment for neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nvAMD) and to measure the awareness of AMD in Southeast Scotland. DESIGN Retrospective cross-sectional study. SETTING Secondary care, Southeast of Scotland. METHODS Patients treated with intravitreal therapy (IVT) for nvAMD in Southeast Scotland between 2013 and 2015 were identified using a treatment register. Notes were retrospectively reviewed. We measured time from: (A) symptom onset to first presentation at primary care, (B) referral to ophthalmic clinic appointment and (C) ophthalmic clinic appointment to first IVT treatment. To investigate AMD awareness, we performed a cluster random sample survey of patients visiting non-AMD ophthalmic clinics using a previously validated 12-item questionnaire. RESULTS 195 patients (mean age 78 years) were included in the study. The mean delays between the different stages-A, B and C-were 54.2 (95% CI ±13), 28.2 (95% CI ±4.0) and 31.5 (95% CI ±3.6) days, respectively. There was an additional mean delay of 7.5 (95% CI ±1.6) days when patients were indirectly referred by optometrists via general practitioners (P<0.05). 140 patients (mean age 78) participated in the awareness survey; 62.1% reported being 'aware' of AMD but only 37.3% described AMD symptoms correctly. CONCLUSIONS There was a significant delay at every step of the nvAMD care pathway. The causes for this were multifactorial and included delays in first presentation to a healthcare provider, referral from primary care and initiation of secondary care treatment. Our data are likely to underestimate prehospital delays as a large number of cases are likely to have undefined symptoms and onset. We also identified suboptimal awareness of AMD which could account for a substantial delay in presentation from symptom onset. These findings highlight the need to address AMD awareness and the need for urgent treatment to prevent avoidable vision loss resulting from nvAMD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peng Yong Sim
- College of Medicine & Veterinary Medicine, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Sonul Gajree
- Ophthalmology Department, Gartnavel General Hospital, Glasgow, UK
| | - Baljean Dhillon
- College of Medicine & Veterinary Medicine, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
- The Princess Alexandra Eye Pavilion, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Shyamanga Borooah
- Moorfields Eye Hospital, London, UK
- Centre for Clinical Brain Sciences, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
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Ledolter J, Kardon RH. Does Testing More Frequently Shorten the Time to Detect Disease Progression? Transl Vis Sci Technol 2017; 6:1. [PMID: 28473945 PMCID: PMC5412967 DOI: 10.1167/tvst.6.3.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2016] [Accepted: 03/17/2017] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE With the rise of smartphone devices to monitor health status remotely, it is tempting to conclude that sampling more often will provide a more sensitive means of detecting changes in health status earlier over time, when interventions may improve outcomes. METHODS The answer to this question is derived in the context of a model where observations are generated from a linear-trend model with independent as well as autocorrelated autoregressive-moving average, or ARMA(1,1), errors. RESULTS The results imply a cautionary message that an increase in the sampling frequency may not always lead to a faster detection of trend changes. The benefit of rapid successive observations depends on how observations, taken closely together in time, are correlated. CONCLUSIONS Shortening the observation period by half can be accomplished by increasing the number of independent observations to maintain the same power for detecting change over time. However, a strategy to detect progression of disease sooner by taking numerous closely spaced measurements over a shortened interval is limited by the degree of autocorrelation among adjacent observations. We provide a statistical model of disease progression that allows for autocorrelation among successive measurements, and obtain the power of detecting a linear change of specified magnitude when equal-spaced observations are taken over a given time interval. TRANSLATIONAL RELEVANCE New emerging technology for home monitoring of visual function will provide a means to monitor sensory status more frequently. The model proposed here takes into account how successive measurements are correlated, which impacts the number of measurements needed to detect a significant change in status.
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Affiliation(s)
- Johannes Ledolter
- Departments of Management Sciences/Statistics & Actuarial Science, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA
| | - Randy H Kardon
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Iowa Hospital and Clinics and Iowa City VA Medical Center, Iowa City, IA, USA
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Early detection of age related macular degeneration: current status. Int J Retina Vitreous 2015; 1:20. [PMID: 27847613 PMCID: PMC5088451 DOI: 10.1186/s40942-015-0022-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2015] [Accepted: 10/13/2015] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Early diagnosis and treatment of choroidal neovascularization (CNV), a main cause of severe vision loss in age related macular degeneration (AMD), is crucial in order to preserve vision and the quality of life of patients. This review summarizes current literature on the subject of early detection of CNV, both in the clinic setting and mainly in the patient’s home. New technologies are evolving to allow for earlier detection and thus vision preservation in AMD patients.
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