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Agreement between a mobile applet-based visual acuity self-test program and the conventional method for distance and
Yiyong Xian1,2,3,4, Yuhao Ye1,2,3,4, Fang Liu1,2,3,4
1Eye Institute and Department of Ophthalmology, Eye & ENT Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.
Clinical & Experimental Ophthalmology
|December 8, 2022
Summary
A mobile app visual acuity self-test shows good agreement with traditional eye exams. This technology offers practical value for self-screening, myopia control, and remote vision management, especially during health crises.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Digital Health
- Vision Science
Background:
- Assessing visual acuity (VA) traditionally requires in-person clinic visits.
- The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the need for remote and self-administered health assessments.
- Mobile health technologies offer potential solutions for accessible vision testing.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the agreement between a mobile applet-based visual acuity self-test and conventional VA testing methods.
- To determine the reliability of a smartphone application for various visual acuity measurements.
Main Methods:
- A consecutive case series included 121 participants (242 eyes) across pediatric, adolescent, and adult age groups.
- Participants underwent testing for uncorrected distance VA (UDVA), distance VA with available spectacle correction (DVA with ASC), uncorrected near VA (UNVA), and near VA with ASC using both the mobile app and conventional tests.
- Testing was conducted at standardized distances (2.5m for distance, 0.4m for near).
Main Results:
- Strong significant correlations were found between the mobile app and conventional tests for UDVA, DVA with ASC, and UNVA (all p < 0.001).
- Intraclass correlation coefficients ranged from 0.669 to 0.960, indicating good to excellent agreement.
- While most measures showed high agreement, a significant difference was noted in NVA with ASC for the adolescent group (p < 0.05).
Conclusions:
- The mobile applet-based VA self-test demonstrates good agreement with conventional methods.
- This technology holds significant practical value for self-screening, myopia management, and remote care of visual impairments.
- The self-test is particularly relevant in public health scenarios, such as pandemics, enabling continuous eye health monitoring.
