• retina
• telemedicine

Visual impairment is a growing problem worldwide.1 By 2040, it is estimated that 288 million patients will have some forms of AMD,2 119 million with glaucoma cases,3 and 422 millions with DR.4 With ageing populations globally, most eye health services will struggle to manage these eye diseases with existing manpower and infrastructure, and face significant financial constraints.5

In this setting, new models of care with digital health technologies and platforms are urgently needed.5 Conventionally, eye care service delivery can be conducted via routine, mobile and teleophthalmology settings. With the advancement in technology and telecommunication networks, numerous novel digital health solutions and service models can streamline and automate critical aspects of the screening and monitoring processes,6 including secure telemedicine platforms that can be coupled with automated algorithms using artificial intelligence and big data analytics.6 These measures not only help screen and triage patients with new eye diseases, but can also monitor stable patients who do not require management in tertiary eye care settings.

Telemedicine can be broadly divided into two types—synchronous and asynchronous models. The synchronous model usually requires good internet connectivity that enables real-time consultations between patients and physicians via a telemedicine platform. This model is useful for emergency rooms consultations in rural hospital settings where ophthalmology services are limited. Local emergency physicians could use telemedicine platforms to present their patients’ history and ocular examination, enabling ophthalmologists or specialists to help triage the urgency of referrals or …