Feasibility of Visual Field Screening Apps

Plain-language summary

A visual field (VF) is a measurement of how wide an area our eyes can see when fixed onto a point. Visual field testing is one of the ways of assessing how much vision there is in each eye and how much vision might have been lost over time. Defects in the visual field are seen in diseases such as glaucoma, which is one of the leading causes of blindness. VF tests should be performed regularly during outpatient appointments to help monitor these conditions before they progress. Monitoring individuals with VF defects presents a large strain on eye services at University Hospitals Southampton (UHS). Recently an Apple iPad-based application called 'VisualFields easy' has been developed that could be used at home to test visual fields, opening up the possibility of remote monitoring. This is especially significant since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic which has left outpatient clinics across the UK with large patient backlogs. However, it's not understood yet to what level of accuracy this iPad test can be performed by untrained people and whether the results of this test are medically reliable. This study will measure if there's a correlation between iPad-based VF measurements and the standard clinic-based measurements taken by professionals. The potential of this app to be used at home will also be assessed with a usability questionnaire. These measurements will be taken during routine eye and neurology outpatient clinics at UHS. Home-based VF testing could allow those who weren't able to access eye services during the pandemic greater follow-up and monitoring. Through providing regular, up-to-date information on a patient's condition and progress, VF tests at home may improve outcomes. The investigators also foresee the benefits of this app on NHS clinical services, with the potential of reduced outpatient appointments and waiting times thus easing pressure on the NHS.

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