This telemedicine test was developed to determine the relative ease with wh
ich an off-the-shelf ophthalmic telemedicine package could be successfully
applied from within a remote theatre of operations. The project was conduct
ed at the Camp Doha Health Clinic, located just outside Kuwait City, during
the period from April 12(th) through April 23(rd), 1998. The deployed sign
al unit had contracted for a direct T-I commercial satellite link (via MCI)
, which allowed for direct internet connectivity using a PCMCIA network car
d. Digital images were sent via this connection to 140 e-mail sites through
out the world, including an unsolicited image to each of 134 Army optometry
officers for their review, analysis, and diagnosis. Return responses to th
is unsolicited survey were 53 out of 134, for a 39.7% response rate. Half o
f the respondents were able to view the image with ease and clarity, render
ing an accurate clinical diagnosis. The other half of the respondents eithe
r did not have the software to display an image on their clinical desktop P
C, or did not know how to use their provided software. This project clearly
indicates that an off-the-shelf ophthalmic digital system can be successfu
lly used from a remote deployed site. However, the consulting clinicians re
quire up-to-date training, and their computer packages should have as wide
a capability base as possible.