Portable devices for diagnosis and monitoring of glaucoma: a scoping review protocol

Abstract

Introduction Glaucoma is the leading cause of irreversible blindness in the world. The need to diagnose glaucoma early in its natural history before extensive sight loss occurs cannot be overemphasised. However, glaucoma is largely asymptomatic in the early stages of the disease making it complex to diagnose clinically and requires the support of technology. The objective of this scoping review is to determine the nature and extent of the evidence for use of portable devices in the diagnosis of glaucoma.Methods We will consider studies conducted in all healthcare settings using portable devices for the detection of all type of adult glaucoma. We will also include any systematic reviews or scoping reviews, which relate to this topic. Searches will be conducted in MEDLINE, Embase, CENTRAL on the Cochrane Library and Global Health databases, from their inception to the present. Reference lists from publications identified in the searches will also be reviewed. Two authors will independently screen titles and abstracts, followed by full-text screening to assess studies for inclusion. Any disagreements will be discussed and resolved with a third author. Tables accompanied by narrative descriptions will be employed to discuss results and show how it relates to review questions.Ethics and dissemination Ethical approval is not required in this review. Only published and publicly accessible data will be used. We will publish our findings in an open-access, peer-reviewed journal and develop an accessible summary of results and recommendations.