[Teleconsultation network for ophthalmology--experiences and results]. / Telekonsultationsnetzwerk für die Ophthalmologie--Erfahrungen und Ergebnisse.

MOTIVATION: Telemedical services for ophthalmology are developed within the OPHTEL project, which has been funded by the European Union and by the Bavarian government in the Bavaria-online initiative. METHODS: Seven private ophthalmologists, one university eye clinic, one clinical Diabetes center and an informatics research institute are connected within a teleconsultation network. Asynchronous (based on Internet E-Mail) and synchronous (based on ISDN-mediated videoconferencing tools) types of teleconsultations are realized. RESULTS: 86 teleconsultations (62 asynchronous, 23 synchronous) took place within the first 10 months. Complex and rare eye diseases as well as interdisciplinary questions (ophthalmology--diabetology) are the main area of medical communication interest. Legal and security problems are discussed. CONCLUSIONS: Telemedical services must be understood as a complete process of medical care on the basis of modern communication technologies, which influences also the management of this process.

[Comparative multicenter study of carteolol eyedrops with other beta blockers in 768 patients under normal conditions]. / Vergleichende multizentrische Untersuchung von Carteolol-Augentropfen mit anderen Betablockern bei 768 Patienten unter Alltagsbedingungen.

In an open multi-center study involving 768 patients the efficacy and tolerability of Carteolol eye drops as compared to other beta blockers were investigated. The patients started to use the new medication without a prior washout period. In patients who were well stabilized (57%), IOP either did not change when the medication was switched to Carteolol (73%) or it actually decreased. In 78% of the patients who had not responded altogether satisfactorily to the pretreatment, Carteolol eye drops lowered IOP to a tolerable level of 21 mm Hg or less without using any comedication. IOP remained hypertonic under Carteolol in only 19% of the cases. Fewer systemic and local side effects were observed under Carteolol therapy. Patients had fewer problems going upstairs. Burning after installation decreased by 25% to 2%. Even fluorescein-positive corneal findings almost completely disappeared under Carteolol.

[Effectiveness and tolerance of an active combination of timolol and pilocarpine--a pilot project]. / Wirksamkeit und Verträglichkeit einer Wirkstoffkombination von Timolol und Pilocarpin--Eine Pilotstudie.

A pilot study was conducted to find out whether it is possible to achieve a further drop in intraocular pressure in eyes with glaucoma, which is about 22 mmHg after treatment with 0.5% timolol, by employing a combination preparation of timolol 0.5% and pilocarpine 2% or timolol 0.5% and pilocarpine 4% respectively, administered as eyedrops. This resulted in an average additional lowering of 1.9 mmHg after 2 hrs and by 2.1 mmHg after 6 hours (TP2) or by 3.0 mmHg after 2 and 3.5 mmHg after 6 and by 2.7 mmHg after 12 hours (TP4), the therapeutically relevant duration of effectivity being 6 (TP2) or 12 (TP4) hours, respectively.