Telemedicine enables faster ROP diagnosis than standard indirect ophthalmoscopy

Am J Ophthalmol. 2009;148(1):136-142.

Ophthalmologists diagnosed retinopathy of prematurity significantly more rapidly with telemedicine than with indirect ophthalmoscopy, a study showed.

"Additional time requirements associated with bedside ROP diagnosis increased this disparity," the study authors said. "Telemedicine has potential to alleviate the time commitment for ophthalmologists who manage ROP."

The prospective, comparative study included two pediatric retinal specialists and one pediatric ophthalmologist who used standard indirect ophthalmoscopy and telemedicine to diagnose ROP. Each clinician conducted standard ophthalmoscopy on 72 to 150 consecutive patients in a same-site setting and performed telemedical diagnosis on 125 consecutive retina sets from at-risk infants.

Duration of ophthalmoscopic diagnosis included time spent at the infant's bedside and mean time commitment per infant. Time for telemedical diagnosis was measured by computer time stamps in a Web-based system.

Study data showed mean times for ophthalmoscopic diagnosis ranging from 4.17 minutes to 6.63 minutes per infant. Mean times for telemedical diagnosis ranged from 1.02 minutes to 1.75 minutes per child. Total time commitment for clinicians performing live bedside diagnosis, including travel and consultation, ranged from 10.08 minutes to 14.42 minutes per patient.