J GlaucomaMay 202112 citations

Alabama Screening and Intervention for Glaucoma and Eye Health Through Telemedicine (AL-SIGHT): Study Design and Methodology.

Rhodes Lindsay A, Register Shilpa, Asif Irfan, McGwin Gerald, Saaddine Jinan, Nghiem Van Thi Ha, Owsley Cynthia, Girkin Christopher A

View on PubMed DOI: 10.1097/IJG.0000000000001794

AI Summary

This study evaluates telemedicine's effectiveness for detecting eye diseases like glaucoma in rural, at-risk populations, aiming to improve vision care access and prevent vision loss.

Abstract

Prcis: This paper presents the methods and protocol of a community-based telemedicine program to identify glaucoma and other eye diseases.

Purpose

To describe the study rationale and design of the Alabama Screening and Intervention for Glaucoma and eye Health through Telemedicine project.

Methods

The study will implement and evaluate a telemedicine-based detection strategy for glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy, and other eye diseases in at-risk patients seen at federally qualified health centers located in rural Alabama. The study will compare the effectiveness of the remote use of structural and functional ocular imaging devices to an in-person examination. Study participants will receive a remote ocular assessment consisting of visual acuity, intraocular pressure, visual field testing, and imaging of the retina and optic nerve with spectral-domain optical coherence tomography, and the data will be reviewed by an ophthalmologist and optometrist. It will also compare the effectiveness of financial incentives along with a validated patient education program versus a validated patient education program alone in improving follow-up adherence. Finally, cost and cost-effectiveness analyses will be performed on the telemedicine program compared with standard in-person care using effectiveness measured in numbers of detected eye disease cases.

Conclusions

The study aims to develop a model eye health system using telemedicine to prevent vision loss and address eye health among underserved and at-risk populations.

MeSH Terms

AlabamaGlaucomaHumansIntraocular PressureMass ScreeningTelemedicineTonometry, Ocular

Shields Classification

Ch. 2Intraocular Pressure and Tonometry

Ch. 4Optic Nerve, Retina, and Choroid

Ch. 5Assessment of Visual Fields

Key Concepts5

The Alabama Screening and Intervention for Glaucoma and Eye Health Through Telemedicine (AL-SIGHT) study will implement and evaluate a telemedicine-based detection strategy for glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy, and other eye diseases in at-risk patients seen at federally qualified health centers located in rural Alabama.

MethodologyExpert OpinionStudy Protocoln=At-risk patients at federally qualifi…Ch10Ch28

The Alabama Screening and Intervention for Glaucoma and Eye Health Through Telemedicine (AL-SIGHT) study will compare the effectiveness of the remote use of structural and functional ocular imaging devices to an in-person examination for detecting glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy, and other eye diseases.

Comparative EffectivenessExpert OpinionStudy Protocoln=At-risk patients at federally qualifi…Ch3Ch4Ch5Ch6

Study participants in the Alabama Screening and Intervention for Glaucoma and Eye Health Through Telemedicine (AL-SIGHT) project will receive a remote ocular assessment consisting of visual acuity, intraocular pressure, visual field testing, and imaging of the retina and optic nerve with spectral-domain optical coherence tomography, with data reviewed by an ophthalmologist and optometrist.

DiagnosisExpert OpinionStudy Protocoln=At-risk patients at federally qualifi…Ch3Ch4Ch5Ch6

The Alabama Screening and Intervention for Glaucoma and Eye Health Through Telemedicine (AL-SIGHT) study will compare the effectiveness of financial incentives along with a validated patient education program versus a validated patient education program alone in improving follow-up adherence.

Comparative EffectivenessExpert OpinionStudy Protocoln=At-risk patients at federally qualifi…Ch10Ch28

Cost and cost-effectiveness analyses will be performed on the Alabama Screening and Intervention for Glaucoma and Eye Health Through Telemedicine (AL-SIGHT) program compared with standard in-person care, using effectiveness measured in numbers of detected eye disease cases.