Study Shows Remote Evaluation as Effective as a Doctor’s Visit for AMD Patients

Newswise — Orlando, Fla. — Researchers have found that patients received similar care for wet age-related macular degeneration (AMD) whether being evaluated by a doctor in-person or remotely. The research is being presented at the 2014 Annual Meeting of the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology (ARVO) this week in Orlando, Fla.
Canadian scientists monitored patients who were evaluated for AMD at an imaging center —where scans of their eyes are transmitted to doctors in a different location — as well as patients who were evaluated in-person at a doctor’s office. Both groups received similar care from diagnosis to treatment and visual outcomes.
AMD is an eye condition that disproportionally affects seniors and can lead to blindness if left untreated. Evaluation and treatment can require up to monthly visits to a doctor’s office. The findings could reduce the travel burden on patients and their families.
Abstract Title: Laser peripheral iridotomy versus trabeculectomy as an initial treatment for primary angle-closure glaucoma: a non-randomized comparative study Presentation Start/End Time: Wednesday, May 7, 11am – 12:45pmLocation: Exhibit/Poster Hall SASession Number: 448

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The Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology (ARVO) is the largest eye and vision research organization in the world. Members include some 12,000 eye and vision researchers from over 70 countries. ARVO encourages and assists research, training, publication and knowledge-sharing in vision and ophthalmology.

All abstracts accepted for presentation at the ARVO Annual Meeting represent previously unpublished data and conclusions. This research may be proprietary or may have been submitted for journal publication. Embargo policy: Journalists must seek approval from the presenter(s) before reporting data from paper or poster presentations. Press releases or stories on information presented at the ARVO Annual Meeting may not be released or published until the conclusion of the presentation.