Validity of a Telemedicine System for the Evaluation of Acute-Phase Retinopathy of Prematurity

Authors:
  • FGfor the e-ROP Cooperative Group
    for the e-ROP Cooperative Group
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Abstract
Retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) is a leading cause of avoidable blindness in children worldwide1,2 and an increasing problem in underserved areas of the United States and Canada.3,4 In most settings, ophthalmologists travel regularly to neonatal units to perform serial eye examinations of infants at risk; however, less than 10% of infants examined require treatment.5 The interpretation of the ROP findings varies across examiners.6 A potential solution is to develop a telemedicine system using digital retinal imaging to detect sight-threatening disease. The solution must deal with key screening principles. Such evaluations differ fundamentally from clinical examinations by physicians and must provide compelling evidence for a high likelihood of altering the natural history of the disease in a significant proportion of individuals evaluated.7-9

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