Under evaluation with potential for adoption
DigiVis DVA -self-testing visual acuity app for Ophthalmology
Ophthalmology is the busiest out-patient service, with more than 9 million appointments annually. It is estimated that approximately 22 patients are losing vision preventably due to the long backlogs for appointments.
Remote consultation improves service efficiency but is underutilised by most trusts in Ophthalmology. DigiVis DVA is a fully validated, CE marked web-app enabling patients from 4 years up to self-test their vision. This supports clinical decision making and could enable more appointments to be safely undertaken remotely, in line with the NHS Long Term Plan and improving the service for patients.
About
DigiVis DVA and kiosk is already in clinical use at Cambridge University Hospitals Trust (CUH) and early implementation data shows a halving of f2f appointments in children having amblyopia therapy and good uptake of remote consultations using self-tested visual acuity.
The NIHR i4i Challenge funded ReVise study (started April 2023) will co-design an implementation strategy and toolkit for remote consultation and DigiVis DVA throughout the Ophthalmology service in CUH, Northwest Anglia NHS Trust and Manchester University Hospitals NHS Trust.
DigiVis DVA is accessed via a web-link sentby SMS or email to the patient before or during the remote consultation and also has a kiosk mode which enables patients to self-test their visual acuity in clinic to reduce their waiting time. It is very affordable and health economic modelling shows a cost saving due to improved service efficiency. The DigiVis portal will shortly be adding validated visual field and colour vision testing to its portfolio of tests, increasing its functionality for remote consultation and patient home monitoring of vision.
