NEWS & UPDATES
The Current State of Teleophthalmology in the United States
Siddarth Rathi 1, Edmund Tsui 2, Nitish Mehta 2, Sarwar Zahid 2, Joel S Schuman 3 Affiliations expand PMID: 28647202 PMCID: PMC6020848 DOI: 10.1016/j.ophtha.2017.05.026 Free PMC article Abstract Telemedicine services facilitate the evaluation, diagnosis, and management of the remote patient. Telemedicine has rapidly flourished in the United States and has improved access to care, outcomes, and patient satisfaction. However, the use of telemedicine in ophthalmology is currently in… Read more
Artificial intelligence for teleophthalmology-based diabetic retinopathy screening in a national programme: an economic analysis modelling study
Yuchen Xie 1, Quang D Nguyen 1, Haslina Hamzah 1, Gilbert Lim 2, Valentina Bellemo 1, Dinesh V Gunasekeran 1, Michelle Y T Yip 3, Xin Qi Lee 1, Wynne Hsu 4, Mong Li Lee 4, Colin S Tan 5, Hon Tym Wong 5, Ecosse L Lamoureux 6, Gavin S W Tan 6, Tien Y Wong 6, Eric A Finkelstein 5, Daniel S W Ting 7 Affiliations expand PMID: 33328056 DOI: 10.1016/S2589-7500(20)30060-1 Free article Abstract Background: Deep learning is a novel machine learning technique that has been shown to be as effective… Read more
Virtual Ophthalmology: Telemedicine in a COVID-19 Era
Sophia Mirza Saleem 1, Louis R Pasquale 2, Paul A Sidoti 2, James C Tsai 2 Affiliations expand PMID: 32360862 PMCID: PMC7191296 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajo.2020.04.029 Free PMC article Abstract Purpose: To discuss the effects of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 betacoronavirus on ambulatory ophthalmology practices, the value proposition of telemedicine, teleophthalmology implementation methodologies, and the accelerated future of telemedicine. Design: Review of the current telehealth landscape including… Read more
Teleophthalmology: Evaluation of Phone-based Visual Acuity in a Pediatric Population
Evan Silverstein 1, Jonathan S Williams 2, Jeffrey R Brown 3, Enjana Bylykbashi 3, Sandra S Stinnett 4 Affiliations expand PMID: 32791067 PMCID: PMC7417903 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajo.2020.08.007 Free PMC article Abstract Purpose: With the recent rise of teleophthalmology due to coronavirus disease, health care needs accurate and reliable methods of checking visual acuity remotely. The visual acuity as measured by the GoCheck Kids application was compared with that of the… Read more
Review of economic evaluations of teleophthalmology as a screening strategy for chronic eye disease in adults
Noha Sharafeldin 1 2, Atsushi Kawaguchi 1 3, Aishwarya Sundaram 4, Sandy Campbell 5, Chris Rudnisky 6, Ezekiel Weis 6, Matthew T S Tennant 6, Karim F Damji 7 Affiliations expand PMID: 29680803 DOI: 10.1136/bjophthalmol-2017-311452 Abstract Background/aims: Teleophthalmology is well positioned to play a key role in screening of major chronic eye diseases. Economic evaluation of cost-effectiveness of teleophthalmology, however, is lacking. This study provides a systematic review of economic studies of teleophthalmology screening for diabetic… Read more
Optometry-facilitated teleophthalmology: an audit of the first year in Western Australia
Stephen E Bartnik 1, Stephen P Copeland 1, Angela J Aicken 1, Angus W Turner 1 2 Affiliations expand PMID: 29444552 DOI: 10.1111/cxo.12658 Free article Abstract Background: Lions Outback Vision has run a state-wide teleophthalmology service since 2011. In September 2015 the Australian federal government introduced a Medicare reimbursement for optometry-facilitated teleophthalmology consultations under specific circumstances. This audit demonstrates the first 12 months experience with this scheme…. Read more
Real-time teleophthalmology versus face-to-face consultation: A systematic review
Irene J Tan 1, Lucy P Dobson 1, Stephen Bartnik 1 2, Josephine Muir 1 3, Angus W Turner 1 3 Affiliations expand PMID: 27444188 DOI: 10.1177/1357633X16660640 Abstract Introduction Advances in imaging capabilities and the evolution of real-time teleophthalmology have the potential to provide increased coverage to areas with limited ophthalmology services. However, there is limited research assessing the diagnostic accuracy of face-to-face teleophthalmology consultation. This systematic review aims to… Read more
Clinical Outcomes of a Hospital-Based Teleophthalmology Service: What Happens to Patients in a Virtual Clinic?
Christoph Kern 1, Karsten Kortuem 2, Robin Hamilton 3, Sandro Fasolo 3, Yijun Cai 3, Konstantinos Balaskas 3, Pearse Keane 4, Dawn Sim 4 Affiliations expand PMID: 31044734 DOI: 10.1016/j.oret.2019.01.011 Abstract Purpose: Demographic changes as well as increasing referral rates from national screening services put pressure on available ophthalmologic resources in the United Kingdom. To improve resource allocation, virtual medical retina clinics were introduced in 2016 in Moorfields Eye Hospital, South Division. The scope… Read more
Teleophthalmology consultations-how do we keep our patients safe?
Matthew Gillam 1, Ji-Peng Olivia Li 2, Caroline L S Kilduff 1, Rishi Ramessur 1, Alice A P Thomas 1, Abison Logeswaran 1, Badrul Hussain 1, Peter B M Thomas 3, Gordon Hay 1 4 Affiliations expand PMID: 33106612 PMCID: PMC7586360 DOI: 10.1038/s41433-020-01231-0 Free PMC article No abstract available Conflict of interest statement The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest. References Kang S, Thomas P, Sim D, Parker R, Daniel C, Uddin J. Oculoplastic… Read more
Teleophthalmology and the digital divide: inequities highlighted by the COVID-19 pandemic
Angelica C Scanzera 1, Sage J Kim 2, R V Paul Chan 3 Affiliations expand PMID: 33257801 PMCID: PMC7703735 DOI: 10.1038/s41433-020-01323-x Free PMC article Abstract The COVID-19 pandemic has brought an unprecedented change in the way we deliver eye care to our patients, most notably with the rapid addition of telehealth technology into our practices. We have welcomed telehealth with open arms in hopes… Read more