Home Vision Monitor proves a success for Moorfields patients

98% of patients find Moorfields’ Home Vision Monitor easy to use

The results of Moorfields Eye Hospital’s study into the Home Vision Monitor, which included over 400 patients has been published in JAMA Ophthalmology. Konstantinos Balaskas, consultant ophthalmic surgeon at Moorfields, and his team at NIHR Moorfields Biomedical Research Centre, offered the Home Vision Monitor smartphone app to patients to self-test their vision and then analysed survey results, demographics and app and clinical data.

The Home Vision Monitor was first launched in February 2021 in collaboration with Roche. It became the first and largest real-world deployment of smartphone-based home vision monitoring in patients with common retinal disease such as AMD or diabetic retinopathy. It empowers patients to remotely test and monitor changes in their vision, saving them trips into hospital during lockdowns.

The study assessed factors that can influence uptake, engagement and compliance in using self-care technologies. It was also crucial to understanding enablers and barriers to ensure no patient is left behind in the era of digital healthcare.

The study concluded that:

• 98% of patients found the app either easy or very easy to use
• 89% of patients would recommend the app to others
• 82% of patients experienced increased reassurance from using the app

The Home Vision Monitor triggered 26 vision change alerts during the study. 11 patients had their next treatment appointment moved forward, and the remainder were seen within seven days of their alert.

22 of these patients had active disease detected in their clinic visit, three had stable disease indicating as false positives, and one patient received treatment for a retinal detachment.

The study also found demographic, clinical and patient-related factors that would affect patient uptake and engagement. These will inform targeted interventions to address risks of digital exclusion with smartphone-based medical devices. 

Konstantinos Balaskas, consultant ophthalmologist at Moorfields Eye Hospital, said: “This study highlights the wide range of benefits from apps that monitor patients’ vision between appointments. Not only has Home Vision Monitoring saved trips to hospital and proven to be easy to use even for many of those who struggle with technology, it has helped us to respond earlier to signs of deterioration in eye conditions.”

The Home Vision Monitor is one of several tele-health services offered at Moorfields, including virtual consultations and online A&E clinic. The published paper is available in JAMA Ophthalmology.

Want to get involved in ROAM? Visit research.moorfields.nhs.uk to ask about studies you can join.