title: The role of telemedicine in the assessment of strabismus.
abstract: Thirty patients with strabismus were seen face to face by an ophthalmologist and an orthoptist. The patients were then presented by the same orthoptist to a second ophthalmologist via a telemedicine link. Twenty-six patients were seen using a bandwidth of 384 kbit/s and four using 128 kbit/s. There was agreement between the two ophthalmologists about diagnosis and management in 24 cases, partial agreement in one and no agreement in five (17%). Manifest strabismus was safely diagnosed and managed using telemedicine at 128 kbit/s, although 384 kbit/s was preferred because it obviated the need for repeated examination. Latent strabismus and micro-movements were difficult to diagnose using telemedicine even at 384 kbit/s. Young patients who are unable to sit still would not be suitable for strabismus assessment via telemedicine.
authors.affiliation: Moorfields Eye Hospital, London, UK.
authors.forename: Emma
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Dawson
authors.forename: Craig
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Kennedy
authors.forename: Chris
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bentley
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Ian
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Murdoch
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019114:Remote Consultation / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000592:standards*; D013285:Strabismus / Q000175:diagnosis*; D013686:Telemetry / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000592:standards*