TY - JOUR
T1 - Feasibility of tele-ophthalmology for screening for eye disease in remote communities
AU - Chen, Li Sheng
AU - Tsai, Ching Yao
AU - Liu, Tzeng Ying
AU - Tung, Tao Hsin
AU - Chiu, Yueh Hsia
AU - Chan, Chang Chuan
AU - Liou, Der Ming
AU - Chen, Tony Hsiu Hsi
PY - 2004
Y1 - 2004
N2 - We assessed the feasibility of tele-ophthalmology in a remote location, Tungyin, an island 200 km from Taiwan, which has no ophthalmologist. Screening for eye diseases was carried out among residents aged 40 years or more. A total of 113 subjects, approximately 31% of the whole population, were enrolled in the screening programme. Images were transmitted (via ADSL) to a retinal specialist in Taiwan for diagnosis. The average processing time, excluding the time for copying files, was 6.4 s (SD 2.1) per subject. Transmission took 60-90 s for most of the images (83%). The average time required to make a diagnosis for each subject, including data entry, was approximately 34s (SD 18). In screening for retinopathy, the detection rate with digital imaging (8.8%) was two times higher than with indirect ophthalmoscopy (4.4%). In 12% of cases macular degeneration was identified, and in 6% there were mild or moderate problems with the optic disc. Community-based screening for four categories of eye disease was successfully demonstrated using store-and-forward tele-ophthalmology.
AB - We assessed the feasibility of tele-ophthalmology in a remote location, Tungyin, an island 200 km from Taiwan, which has no ophthalmologist. Screening for eye diseases was carried out among residents aged 40 years or more. A total of 113 subjects, approximately 31% of the whole population, were enrolled in the screening programme. Images were transmitted (via ADSL) to a retinal specialist in Taiwan for diagnosis. The average processing time, excluding the time for copying files, was 6.4 s (SD 2.1) per subject. Transmission took 60-90 s for most of the images (83%). The average time required to make a diagnosis for each subject, including data entry, was approximately 34s (SD 18). In screening for retinopathy, the detection rate with digital imaging (8.8%) was two times higher than with indirect ophthalmoscopy (4.4%). In 12% of cases macular degeneration was identified, and in 6% there were mild or moderate problems with the optic disc. Community-based screening for four categories of eye disease was successfully demonstrated using store-and-forward tele-ophthalmology.
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U2 - 10.1258/1357633042602035
DO - 10.1258/1357633042602035
M3 - Article
C2 - 15603631
AN - SCOPUS:11444260167
VL - 10
SP - 337
EP - 341
JO - Journal of Telemedicine and Telecare
JF - Journal of Telemedicine and Telecare
SN - 1357-633X
IS - 6
ER -