Results from trial find high patient adherence, visual acuity stability with home-based OCT use

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Digital healthcare provider Notal Vision announced results from a first-ever prospective clinical trial that utilized the company’s home-based optical coherence tomography (OCT) for patients with neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD). The trial was conducted in an investigational setting and demonstrated a significant reduction of office visits and treatment frequency as needed by patients while visual acuity (VA) remained stable, according to a news release. Trial results were published in RETINA in May 2024.¹

“For the first time, remote patient monitoring with a home OCT allowed personalized management of nAMD,” wrote the study authors, led by Nancy M. Holekamp, MD.² “This study showed significant reduction in treatment burden while maintaining stable VA.”

The trial was approved by the Institutional Review Board and enrolled 15 patients with nAMD in at least one eye from 3 retina specialist practices in the US. In total, 21 eyes were involved in the study and were managed with the home OCT over a period of 6 months. Patients received the home OCT through the Notal Vision Monitoring Center, where they also received virtual support and patient education. Scans received from the home OCT were self-acquired by patients. Prior training at the eye care provider’s office was not given to patients.¹

Eye care providers then set time and structural biomarker-based thresholds to prompt notifications from the device and allow them to review data in a timely fashion, according to the release. Treatment frequency and VA outcomes were then compared to the patients’ own past standard of care data, which dated back to their diagnosis of nAMD, or up to 2 years.¹

From the data collected, results demonstrated a significant reduction in office visits and treatment frequency, with the mean treatment interval increasing from 8 to 15.3 weeks. The mean VA remained stable as well. Patient adherence to the home OCT use was also high, with an average of 6.2 scans completed per week in each eye.¹

References:

1. Prospective trial shows impact of home OCT guided wet AMD patient management. News release. Notal Vision. June 25, 2024. Accessed July 2, 2024. https://notalvision.com/assets/press-releases/Jun-25-2024-Prospective-trial-shows-impact-of-Home-OCT-guided-wet-AMD-patient-management.pdf

2. Holekamp NM, de Beus AM, Lloyd CW, Heier JS. Prospective trial of home OCT guided management of treatment experienced nAMD patients. RETINA. 2024 May;10.1097/IAE.0000000000004167. doi:10.1097/IAE.0000000000004167