title: Feasibility of a novel remote daily monitoring system for age-related macular degeneration using mobile handheld devices: results of a pilot study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This pilot study evaluated the feasibility of the Health Management Tool (HMT), a novel computing system using mobile handheld devices, to remotely monitor retinal visual function daily in patients with neovascular age-related macular degeneration treated with ranibizumab.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients with neovascular age-related macular degeneration in at least 1 eye (newly diagnosed or successfully treated < 1 year) and eligible for ranibizumab therapy were enrolled in this 16-week, prospective, open-label, single-arm study. Patients performed a shape discrimination hyperacuity test (myVisionTrack [mVT]) daily on the HMT device (iPhone 3GS) remotely and at all clinic visits. Data entered into HMT devices were collected in the HMT database, which also sent reminders for patients to take mVT.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Among 160 patients from 24 U.S. centers enrolled in the study (103 [64%] ≥ 75 years of age), 84.7% on average complied with daily mVT testing and ≈ 98.9% complied with at least weekly mVT testing. The HMT database successfully uploaded more than 17,000 mVT assessment values and sent more than 9,000 reminders.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Elderly patients with neovascular age-related macular degeneration were willing and able to comply with daily self-testing of retinal visual function using mobile handheld devices in this novel system of remote vision monitoring.
authors.affiliation: *Cole Eye Institute, Cleveland, Ohio; †Retina Foundation of the Southwest, Dallas, Texas; ‡Department of Ophthalmology, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas; §Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corp, East Hanover, New Jersey; ¶Novartis Pharma AG, Basel, Switzerland; and **Aegis Creative Communications, Inc, Lakewood, Colorado.
authors.forename: Peter K
authors.initials: PK
authors.lastname: Kaiser
authors.forename: Yi-Zhong
authors.initials: YZ
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Yu-Guang
authors.initials: YG
authors.lastname: He
authors.forename: Annemarie
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Weisberger
authors.forename: Stephane
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Wolf
authors.forename: Craig H
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Smith
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018670:Monitoring, Ambulatory / Q000295:instrumentation*; D010349:Patient Compliance; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011446:Prospective Studies; D000069579:Ranibizumab; D058998:Remote Sensing Technology / Q000295:instrumentation; D012648:Self Care / Q000295:instrumentation; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D014787:Vision Tests / Q000295:instrumentation*; D014792:Visual Acuity / Q000502:physiology*; D057135:Wet Macular Degeneration / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology
chemical_list: D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; C467484:VEGFA protein, human; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D000069579:Ranibizumab