Philadelphia Telemedicine Glaucoma Detection and Follow-Up Study

Wills Eye

Status: Completed

Conditions: Central Retinal Artery Occlusion; Central Retinal Vein Occlusion; Epi-retinal Membrane; Loss of Vision; Macular Degeneration; Cataract; Drusen; Glaucoma; Ocular Hypertension; Glaucoma Suspect; Branch Retinal Arterial Occlusion; Branch Retinal Vein Occlusion; Diabetic Retinopathy

Treatments: Other: Usual Care; Other: Enhanced Intervention; Other: Free Eye Screenings

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other; Other U.S. Federal agency; Industry

Identifiers

NCT02390245

14-441

Details and patient eligibility

About

The goal is to conduct a 5-year prospective, randomized controlled trial to test an innovative, community-based intervention using posterior and anterior fundus photography of the optic nerve and macula and intraocular eye pressure measurements to improve access and utilization of eye care to detect, treat, and manage high-risk patients with previously undiagnosed glaucoma and other eye diseases. Research shows that subject failure to attend follow-up eye care appointments diminishes any previous benefits of community screenings for glaucoma. Greater adherence to follow-up visits can reduce glaucomatous blindness.

Full description

The project will be divided into following parts:

• Phase 1 will consist of recruiting patients from primary care offices and federally qualified health centers across Philadelphia and Chester counties. Using fundus photography of optic nerve and macula via telemedicine and measurement of intraocular pressure, eye disease will be detected at Visit 1, followed by a comprehensive eye exam by a glaucoma specialist in the primary care setting to confirm the diagnosis (Visit 2) of qualifying participants requiring further evaluation. Predictive accuracy of optic nerve images to detect glaucoma, glaucoma suspect and other eye diseases as confirmed by the comprehensive eye exam will be evaluated.
• Phase 2 will involve consenting, enrolling, and randomizing the qualifying participants confirmed by diagnosis at Visit 2 to either the Usual Care group or the Enhanced Intervention group and scheduling follow-up eye exams with a local, general ophthalmologist in an office-based setting (Visit 3). Enhanced intervention will use patient navigators and a social worker to reduce barriers to follow-up eye care.
• Phase 3 will involve monitoring the randomized participants attendance of proximal (1-2 months) and distal (3 years) follow-up care appointments (Visits 3-8) with a local ophthalmologist. Adherence to recommendations for follow-up eye care will be the primary outcome measure. A comprehensive estimation of intervention costs and cost-effectiveness of detecting eye diseases and vision impairment in a high-risk population will also be conducted. Protocols, materials, and results will be disseminated to other organizations, stakeholders and communities in order to expand detection of glaucoma, other eye diseases, and visual impairment, and to further refine these approaches.

Enrollment: 906 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 40+ years old

Volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• African-American, Hispanic, or Asian individuals over age 40
• Caucasian individuals over age 65
• Individuals of any ethnicity, over age 40 with a family history of glaucoma
• Individuals of any ethnicity, over age 40 with diabetes
• Individuals who meet one of the above criteria who have not seen an ophthalmologist in the past year

Exclusion criteria

Any patient with previously diagnosed glaucoma, glaucoma suspect, or eye diseases who is currently being followed by an ophthalmologist

Trial design

Primary purpose: Other

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: Single Blind

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906 participants in 3 patient groups

Phase 1: Telemedicine Screening Participants

Experimental group

Description:

Participants across the Philadelphia, PA region were invited to participate in free eye screenings at primary care physician offices or health centers. Screenings included images of optic nerve and macula using non-contact, autofocus, hand-held fundus cameras (Volk Optical, Mentor, Ohio, USA) and measuring Intraocular Pressure (IOP) in millimeters of mercury (mm Hg) with non-contact rebound tonometers TA01I (ICare, Helsinki, Finland).

Treatment:

Other: Free Eye Screenings

Phases 2 and 3: Enhanced Intervention Group

Experimental group

Description:

From eye screening results (visit 1), Phase 2 includes participants requiring further evaluation received comprehensive eye exam to confirm diagnosis (visit 2). Following confirmation diagnosis, patients were randomized to the Enhanced Intervention Group and were referred to a general ophthalmologist for follow-up eye care. Patient navigation and a social worker and referred to a general ophthalmologist close to the current health center or primary care physician office where they received the non dilated eye exam. Prior to all follow-up visits, patients in the Enhanced Intervention Group were provided a scheduled appointment and received a personal phone call reminding them to attend. Patients received necessary interpretation services and educational materials. Phase 3. Includes following this group over a 5 year period for adherence to eye care.

Treatment:

Other: Enhanced Intervention

Phases 2 and 3: Usual Care Group

Experimental group

Description:

From eye screening results (visit 1), Phase 2 includes participants requiring further evaluation received comprehensive eye exam to confirm diagnosis (visit 2). Following confirmation diagnosis, patients were randomized to the Usual Care Group and were referred to a general ophthalmologist for follow-up eye care. These patients were scheduled for their initial follow-up visit based on the recommendations of our study physicians so the research team was able to track outcomes. This group represents a realistic choice currently available for patients. Practice patterns vary depending on the resources, staff time, and services available within each local ophthalmology practice. Phase 3. Includes following this group over a 5 year period for adherence to eye care.

Treatment:

Other: Usual Care