%0 Journal Article
%A Blinder, Kevin J.
%T More Homework for Patients With Macular Degeneration?
%B JAMA Ophthalmology
%D 2024
%R 10.1001/jamaophthalmol.2024.1050
%J JAMA Ophthalmology
%@ 2168-6165
%X In the current issue of JAMA Ophthalmology, Hogg and colleagues present the results of the Monitoring for Neovascular Age-Related Macular Degeneration Reactivation at Home (MONARCH) study, which examines the diagnostic accuracy of 3 different home-monitoring tests for detecting active neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD) in patients who have received at least 6 months of treatment in 1 eye. As the retina community continues to improve our treatment strategies for nAMD, we are also increasing the treatment burden on patients, their families, and treating physicians.This has prompted a search for an ideal home-monitoring system that would allow patients to monitor their disease status from home and seek treatment when necessary. The MONARCH study, which has been described previously in detail, involved a multicenter (6 sites) diagnostic accuracy cohort trial conducted in the UK. The authors evaluated 3 different tests: 1 conducted using paper and pencil and 2 using modern information technology through a software app on the mobile operating system–based device, iPod Touch (Apple). It is noteworthy that the authors selected these testing methods with the condition that the device owners or developers could have no input in the study’s design, implementation, analysis, or reporting. They also mentioned that Notal Vision declined to participate in the trial with their ForeseeHome device. Perhaps a different or more thorough selection process for the testing methods used could have been considered. This may have resulted in higher-accuracy testing modalities with more positive results.
%[ 5/20/2024
%U https://doi.org/10.1001/jamaophthalmol.2024.1050