ByOPHTEL: A Bavarian project for rapid telemedical exchange of knowledge, files and skills between practitioners and hospitals in eye care

ByOPHTEL, part of the Bavarian initiative Bayern Online, derived its name f rom the European project OPHTEL, to which it is closely linked and which in Bavaria, is more or less worked out and performed by identical persons and institutions. It provides a group of 7 practitioners in and around the cit y of Munich with the possibility of exchanging general ophthalmologic knowl edge as well as patient-related information with anyone in the group, or wi th the related ophthalmologic, internal, rasp. scientific centers at the TU Munich and the GSF Neuherberg. Connections are routinely performed in the asynchronous or in the synchronous mode, and all partners participate in th e scientific projects Knowledge Based Information System, Glaucoma Monitor, and Diabetic Retinopathy Monitor- as well as in the enhancement of a trust ful patient-physician relationship ("second opinion") and a closer cooperat ion in out-patient and inpatient ophthalmical surgery and medical treatment .