Patients with age-related macular degeneration (AMD) tend to convert from dry to wet AMD between appointments with their primary care clinician, noted Joshua Mali, MD, a vitreoretinal surgeon at The Eye Associates in Sarasota, FL in a blog post. Home-monitoring can be used to detect wet AMD sooner, and alleviate patient anxiety.
Dr. Mali reviewed the current standard of care to monitor vision away from the clinic, the Amsler grid, as well as a newer option that uses preferential hyperacuity perimetry (PHP). The advantages of the new device are evident during appointment time, as it allows for streamlined visits. He advises patients to use the device at least 8 times monthly, but ideally he prefers they use it daily. He monitors reports once a month. The 8 times a month minimum is important because Medicare covers the cost of the device but will ask to have it returned if patients do not hit that minimum.
Mali M, Farid M. Home-use AMD device increases efficacy of chair time, patient monitoring. [Published online May 10, 2018]. Ophthalmology Times. http://www.ophthalmologytimes.com/blog/home-use-amd-device-increases-efficacy-chair-time-patient-monitoring/page/0/1
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