Web-based telemonitoring of visual function and self-reported postoperative outcomes in cataract care: international multicenter randomized controlled trial

Janneau L.J. Claessens*, Joukje C. Wanten, Noël J.C. Bauer, Rudy M.M.A. Nuijts, Violette Vrijman, Esen Selek, Rob J. Wouters, Nicolaas J. Reus, Fallon J.G.M. Van Dorst, Oliver Findl, Manuel Ruiss, Karl Boden, Kai Januschowski, Saskia M. Imhof, Robert P.L. Wisse

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleAcademicpeer-review

Abstract

Purpose: To compare web-based, self-administered follow-up after cataract surgery to conventional face-to-face follow-up. Setting: Eye clinics in the Netherlands, Austria, and Germany. Design: Randomized controlled trial with an embedded method comparison study (ClinicalTrials. gov: NCT04809402). Methods: Routine patients with cataract were randomized into 2 groups: The telemonitoring group undertook web-based vision self-assessments and questionnaires from home, while the usual care group received conventional care. All participants had a 4- to 6-week postoperative clinic visit for safety and validation purposes. Outcomes included, the web test's accuracy for assessing postoperative visual acuity (VA) and refractive error, adverse event rates, and patient-reported outcome measurements (PROMs). Results: 94 participants (188 eyes) were enrolled. Web-based uncorrected distance VA testing demonstrated a negligible mean difference (-0.03 ± 0.14 logMAR) when compared with conventional Early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Study chart testing, with 95% limits of agreement ranging from -0.30 to 0.24 logMAR. The web-based refraction assessment overestimated the postoperative refractive error (mean difference in spherical equivalent 0.15 ± 0.67 diopters), resulting in a poorer corrected distance VA compared with subjective refraction (mean 0.1 vs -0.1 logMAR). Rates of adverse events and unscheduled consultations were minimal across both groups. Preoperative and postoperative PROM questionnaires had a 100% response rate. Visual functioning (Catquest-9SF and National Eye Institute Visual Function Questionnaire-25) improved postoperatively (mean improvement -0.80 and 16.70, respectively) and did not significantly differ between the 2 groups. Conclusions: The patients with cataract in this study effectively provided postoperative outcome data using a web interface. Both conventional and web-based follow-ups yielded similar PROMs and adverse event rates. Future developments should reduce the variability in the web-based VA test and yield representative refraction outcomes.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)947-955
Number of pages9
JournalJournal of Cataract and Refractive Surgery
Volume50
Issue number9
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 Sept 2024

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