Abstract
Purpose:
Patients with age-related macular degeneration (AMD) need to undergo regular testing of their visual acuity. A tool for self-measurement including an Amsler grid and automated distance adjustment to be run on an iPad was developed to enable patients to have regular testing by themselves. It is available in German, English and Spanish. This project was designed to evaluate whether iPad-based vision auto-testing at home is a feasible method for patients with AMD to safely check for changes in visual acuities controlling their visual status.
Methods:
The project was run with patients from 6 ophthalmological offices. Target sample size was 150 patients; only patients with an initial vision of at least 0.05 were included. Patients had to consent to a stand-alone home vision test every 1 to 4 weeks and a control office visit with vision test and OCT measurement of central retinal thickness every 3 months for 12 months. An app-nurse was available for questions and help in performing home auto-vision tests. Visual acuity was measured by auto-measurement with Landolt rings using the iPad App “iC Pro- The EyeTest” with automatic distance evaluation, control office visits additionally tested the distant vision by projection of Landolt rings (EN ISO 8596). Patients were initially advised how to use the iPad App.
Results:
152 patients of 58 to 91 years of age (mean 79.4 yrs) were included. Results for home vision auto-testing and control tests at the office were consistent in 82.3% (right eye) and 84.3% (left eye) of the measurements. The majority of patients (84.3%) chose the home vision auto-testing as their preferred method for regularly testing visual acuity in the course of AMD, 15.7% chose the office-based vision testing. The correlation between central retinal thickness and results from home auto-vision measurement will be presented.
Conclusions:
Patients prefer home auto-vision testing with the iPad App over frequent visits to the ophthalmologists office for vision controls. Features like an adjustable reminder for performing tests and a mail function to send the results contribute to its value. With increasing numbers of patients suffering from AMD the personalized iPad App supports patients and ophthalmologists by reducing travel and office time in the routine care of AMD.
Keywords: 412 age-related macular degeneration •
754 visual acuity