Asynchronous Teleophthalmology for Monitoring Glaucoma Patients in a Rural German Region: A Retrospective Observational Pilot Study.

Autor:	Bisorca-Gassendorf L; Ophthalmology, Eye Clinic Petrisberg, Trier, DEU., Murovski S; Ophthalmology, Eye Centre Erzgebirge, Zschopau, DEU., Julich-Härtel H; Ophthalmology, Eye Clinic Sulzbach, Knappschaft Hospital Saar, Sulzbach/Saar, DEU., Rickmann A; Ophthalmology, Eye Clinic Sulzbach, Knappschaft Hospital Saar, Sulzbach/Saar, DEU., Szabo JE; Ophthalmology, Eye Clinic Sulzbach, Knappschaft Hospital Saar, Sulzbach/Saar, DEU., Erokhina M; Ophthalmology, Eye Clinic Sulzbach, Knappschaft Hospital Saar, Sulzbach/Saar, DEU., Wenzel M; Ophthalmology, Eye Clinic Petrisberg, Trier, DEU., Januschowski K; Ophthalmology, Eye Clinic Petrisberg, Trier, DEU.; Ophthalmology, University Eye Hospital Tübingen, Tübingen, DEU.
Jazyk:	angličtina
Zdroj:	Cureus [Cureus] 2022 Apr 17; Vol. 14 (4), pp. e24210. Date of Electronic Publication: 2022 Apr 17 (Print Publication: 2022).
DOI:	10.7759/cureus.24210
Abstrakt:	Background: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has created an escalating need for limiting in-person examination and potential viral exposure. Under these circumstances, teleophthalmology allows ophthalmologists to continue providing care to patients while ensuring their safety and that of the medical staff. Objective: The primary objective of this study was to assess patient satisfaction with an asynchronous teleconsultation for glaucoma patients in a rural German area. Secondary endpoints were patient adherence and the need to change the therapeutic regime. Methods: This retrospective, observational, and monocentric study included 50 patients diagnosed with primary open-angle glaucoma (n = 49) and ocular hypertension (n = 1) requiring medication to lower intraocular pressure (IOP). Only patients with well-controlled diseases were included, and a brief questionnaire was evaluated, which was completed one year after the baseline visit. Best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), IOP measurements, visual fields, optical coherence tomography images of the optic nerve head, ultra-widefield photographs of the fundus, and photographs of the anterior segment of the eye were taken at each visit by an experienced optometrist. Results: Of the 50 patients included, the mean number of follow-up visits in this observation period was 4.4. No patient was lost to follow-up, and there were a total of nine missed follow-up visits (but not lost to follow-up). No patients required a change in their treatment regime during the observational period. Regarding patient-focused assessment, the majority of patients were satisfied or very satisfied with teleconsultation in general. Conclusion: Asynchronous teleophthalmology is a promising option and effective means to monitor glaucoma patients. The majority of teleophthalmology patients were satisfied with their teleconsultation and adhered to the follow-up schedule. However, prospective trials with a larger number of patients and a more focused examination on specific patient populations are required. Further trials should also focus on the aspect of cost-effectiveness. Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist. (Copyright © 2022, Bisorca-Gassendorf et al.)
Databáze:	MEDLINE
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