Comparison of glaucoma diagnosis by telemedicine, in-person ophthalmologist and optometrist

Key Takeaways

• Diagnosis of glaucoma via simulated telemedicine demonstrates moderate agreement with in-person ophthalmologist and optometrist diagnosis, providing evidence that telemedicine could be used as a timely, accurate screening method in settings where an in-person visit may not be feasible.
• Telemedicine may present a crucial complementary role in screening and increasing access to care, particularly in rural or underserved settings.

Researchers at the University of Alabama at Birmingham conducted a study to compare agreement of glaucoma diagnosis between in-person ophthalmologist (MD), in-person optometrist (OD), and a simulated telemedicine program. The researchers studied 100 patients who were referred for glaucoma evaluation and were examined either in-person by an MD or in-person by an OD. In addition, structural and functional tests were reviewed separately by two ophthalmologists, with masking of prior MD or OD diagnoses, to simulate a telemedicine approach.  

The researchers found that diagnosis of glaucoma via simulated telemedicine demonstrated moderate agreement with in-person ophthalmologist and optometrist diagnosis, providing evidence that telemedicine could be a timely, accurate screening method in settings where an in-person visit may not be feasible. They conclude that telemedicine could play a crucial complementary role in screening and increasing access to care, particularly in rural or underserved settings. 

Edited by Miriam Kaplan, PhD

Source: Poojitha Balakrishnan, MD, PhD, MPH, et al, Journal of Glaucoma, July 8, 2024; DOI: 10.1097/IJG.0000000000002456