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Abstract #6088 Published in IGR 2-2
Telemedicine in the control of intra-ocular pressure
Michelson G; Striebel W; Prihoda W; Schmidt VJournal of Telemedicine and Telecare 2000; 6: S126-128
Glaucoma is one of the most common causes of blindness in the Western world and a major risk factor is increased intraocular pressure. Therefore, the authors used telemedicine in its control. Patients measured their intraocular pressure several times a day with a portable instrument and the values were then entered into a portable digital assistant. These data were transmitted by a modem to a central server. If the intraocular pressure was pathologically high, an email message was automatically sent to the ophthalmologist. The pressure curve, including a statistical analysis, was displayed in an easily readable chart format. Ten patients with glaucoma participated in a trial. Self-tonometry with telemedicine enabled continuous evaluation of the patient by the ophthalmologist. This approach offered the advantage of controlling the treatment remotely. Advantages for the patient were that the measurements were easily done at home under normal conditions, and the patient could control when the measurement and data transmission would be performed. Telemedicine is a cost-effective technique enabling the early diagnosis of pathologically increased intraocular pressure.
Dr. G. Michelson, Department of Ophthalmology, University Erlangen-Nuernberg, Germany. Georg.Michelson@augen.med.uni-erlangen.de
Classification:
6.20 Progression (Part of: 6 Clinical examination methods)
