A study on the system of self-evaluation of the visual acuity based on WeChat platform

Abstract

Purpose : To build up the system of self-evaluation and monitoring of the visual acuity based on WeChat platform in Yueqing Eye Service.

Methods : Each family who is covered by Yueqing Eye Service will be provided with a visual acuity chart together with the household propaganda and the training for the visual acuity test and the use of WeChat public platform by investigators. Through WeChat, users can create profiles for personal or family-based results of self-evaluation of the visual acuity (VA) in the cloud. After training, residents are required to check the visual acuity by themselves. Then they are asked to scan a Quick Response code to follow the WeChat public account, create a home-based file, fill in the personal information of every family member and report the results of self-evaluation of the visual acuity. Results will be highlighted if who meets the following criteria: (1) VA ＜ 20/60; (2) interocular acuity differences greater than two lines; (3) VA ＞ 20/60, but the vision loss greater than two lines within 1 year. The WeChat platform will not only remind these cases to seek for eye exams but also offer services of appointment registration. There are also regular push notifications of science knowledge on eye care in the form of words, voice and videos.

Results : For the last four-and-a-half months, 71,803（37,912 males and 33,891 females）residents had reported the results of self-evaluation of the visual acuity by the end of November 12, 2017. Among them, there were 4951 people aged between 3 and 10, 6518 people aged between 11 and 20, 10384 people aged between 21 and 30, 12088 people aged between 31 and 40, 11894 people aged between 41 and 50, 11358 people aged between 51 and 60, 9237 people aged between 61 and 70, 3954 people aged between 71 and 80, 1419 people older than 80. There were 950 residents whose self-reported VA (one eye)＜ 20/60 and 1174 residents whose VA (both eye)＜ 20/60. Highest proportion of self-reported VA less than 20/60 was found in the group older than 80, in which VA (one eye)＜ 20/60 was 11.91% and VA (both eye)＜ 20/60 was 13.46%. In all, 319 residents had made appointment for eye care service through WeChat platform.

Conclusions : We have demonstrated the feasibility of self-evaluation of the visual acuity by using WeChat platform. Further studies will be focus on the improving WeChat platform, such as adding function of online consultant, doctor-patient interaction and so on.

This is an abstract that was submitted for the 2018 ARVO Annual Meeting, held in Honolulu, Hawaii, April 29 - May 3, 2018.