Role of teleophthalmology to manage anterior segment conditions in vision centres of south India: EyeSmart study-I
Neha Misra1, Rohit C Khanna2, Asha L Mettla1, Srinivas Marmamula3, Varsha M Rathi1, Anthony V Das4
1 Allen Foster Community Eye Health Research Centre, Gullapalli Pratibha Rao International Centre for Advancement of Rural Eye Care, Hyderabad, India 2 Allen Foster Community Eye Health Research Centre, Gullapalli Pratibha Rao International Centre for Advancement of Rural Eye Care; Brien Holden Eye Research Centre, L V Prasad Eye Institute, Hyderabad, India; School of Optometry and Vision Science, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia; School of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY, USA 3 Allen Foster Community Eye Health Research Centre, Gullapalli Pratibha Rao International Centre for Advancement of Rural Eye Care; Brien Holden Eye Research Centre, L V Prasad Eye Institute; Brien Holden Institute of Optometry and Vision Science; Wellcome Trust/ Department of Biotechnology India Alliance Research Fellow, Hyderabad, Telangana, India 4 Department of EyeSmart EMR and AEye, L V Prasad Eye Institute, Hyderabad, Telangana, India
Correspondence Address:
Dr. Rohit C Khanna L V Prasad Eye Institute, L V Prasad Marg, Banjara hills, Hyderabad - 500 034, Telangana
Source of Support: None, Conflict of Interest: None | Check |
DOI: 10.4103/ijo.IJO_991_19
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Purpose: To study the role of teleophthalmology (TO) in the diagnosis and treatment of anterior segment conditions (including adnexal conditions) in rural areas. Methods: This is a pilot study of 5,604 patients, who visited primary vision centres (VCs) for 1 week from 1-7 September 2018. The patients were examined by a vision technician (VT) to identify those who may need teleconsultation. The centres were located in 16 districts of four Indian states of Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Odisha, and Karnataka. The demographic profile, along with the role of teleconsultation was reviewed. Results: Teleconsultation was advised in 6.9% of the patients, out of which 59.6% were referred to a higher level of care, and 40.4% were treated directly at the VC. Teleconsultations were higher among males (7.0% as compared to 6.6% in females), though not statistically significant (P = 0.55). Teleconsultation was higher in the older population, that is, 60 years and above (14.5%); those with severe visual impairment (VI) (21%) and blindness (31.1%); and in the states of Telangana (11%) and Andhra Pradesh (6.3%). It was noted that 45% of the patients who underwent teleconsultation had pathologies related to ocular surface, cornea and lid, and adnexa-related conditions. Conclusion: Teleconsultation has a significant role in the management of anterior segment conditions in bridging the gap between the patients and ophthalmologists in rural India. TO can also play an important role in the diagnosis and management of anterior segment, lid, and adnexa-related pathologies.
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