Telemedicine for ophthalmic consultation services: use of a portable device and layering information for graders

摘要: Introduction We compared remote, image-based patient consultations to in-person at emergency department and inpatient hospital settings. Methods Patients evaluated by the ophthalmic consultation services (gold standard) were imaged over a two-week period. A trained study coordinator took anterior segment photographs (AS) posterior (PS) with portable camera (PictorPlus, Volk Optical, Cleveland, OH). Ophthalmologists (graders) determined photograph quality, presence of pathology, their confidence in disease detection. At separate session, graders reassessed accompanied one-sentence summary demographics chief complaint (CHx). computed accuracy reliability statistics. Results AS 24 eyes 15 patients PS 39 20 patients. The majority images rated as acceptable or excellent quality (AS: 89-96%; PS: 70-75%). Graders detected pathology 62-81% sensitivity based on photographs, increasing 87-88% plus CHx. 79-86% only, 100% Discussion In this pilot study, there is evidence that imaging technologies could enable ophthalmologists remotely evaluate eye diseases good sensitivity. ophthalmologist detect ocular more accurately if they provided brief clinical information.