In the News: Edition 3

Article: NEI joins call for standardization of ophthalmic imaging devices
Source: National Eye Institute
Published: April 8, 2021

There is a place for ophthalmic imaging devices, from small clinics to large medical centers, where their use is appropriate for the setting. Research in so-called DICOM compliant devices should work toward increasingly rigorous standards, though they are optional at this point. Transparency in research progress, as a safety measure, is a voluntary objective for some projects that are currently in development in eye care, though that development will take many years to fully realize. For systems that interface with a variety of devices and networks, compliance to privacy protocols must be followed to ensure patient confidentiality. [These reasons are even clearer now than previously.] Recognizing that there is no easy way to standardize all ophthalmic imaging devices, ample testing is conducted before implementing any new standard. Any change will be based on clear evidence, a prudent strategy that is adopted by even large organizations. Thank you to the NEI for this piece.