Health And Advancing Technology: IPads Help Test For Glaucoma

With today's technological advances, new devices prove to be both a blessing and a curse. Recent findings presented at the 118th annual meeting of the American Academy of Ophthalmology revealed that iPads could actually serve as an effective tool in testing for glaucoma-the second leading cause of blindness.

"Although not perfect, the tablet glaucoma screening method could make a significant difference in remote locations where populations would not otherwise receive screening at all," said lead study author Chris A. Johnson, of the University of Iowa, in a news release.

For the study, researchers screened 200 patients in Nepal with the application ‘Visual Fields Easy.' Nearly half the yes screened were healthy, while the other half were affected by the health issue.

Results revealed that iPad screening was a better testing method in those with moderate to severe vision loss than traditional means.

"The disease can be effectively treated; however, it generally does not present symptoms in its early stages, resulting in many patients being unaware that they suffer from the condition until it progresses to later stages. Early diagnosis can easily be achieved through a routine examination from an ophthalmologist or an optometrist. While it is relatively easy for patients with access to regular health care in developed nations to be screened for glaucoma during a routine eye examination, remote and underserved communities have limited or no access to such services, increasing their risk for glaucoma-related blindness," researchers concluded.