Surv OphthalmolMarch 202131 citations

A review on the use of telemedicine in glaucoma and possible roles in COVID-19 outbreak.

Lam Pun Yuet, Chow Shing Chuen, Lai Jimmy Shiu Ming, Choy Bonnie Nga Kwan

View on PubMed DOI: 10.1016/j.survophthal.2021.03.008

AI Summary

This review found teleglaucoma is time/cost-effective with high patient satisfaction, useful for monitoring and follow-up during pandemics, but needs improved sensitivity/specificity for extensive management.

Abstract

We review the use of telemedicine in glaucoma and its possible roles in the COVID-19 outbreak. We performed a literature search of published human studies on teleglaucoma on May 12, 2020, using search terms including "telemedicine" and "glaucoma" that were in English and published over the prior 10 years. This search strategy yielded a total of 14 relevant articles after manual curation. Of the 14 articles, 4 were from the same randomized control trial, 7 were prospective studies, 2 were retrospective studies, 1 was descriptive analysis, and 1 was cost-effective analysis. Seven discussed the common ophthalmologic measurements used in teleglaucoma. Four demonstrated the cost effectiveness of the use of teleglaucoma, and 3 articles investigated patient satisfaction with the use of teleglaucoma. Three articles investigated the correlation between teleglaucoma and face-to-face clinics. Five articles discussed the current use and opportunities of teleglaucoma. When compared to in-person care, teleglaucoma is more time and cost-effective, shows high patient satisfaction and fair to good agreement with in-person care; however, there is great variation in the reported sensitivity of glaucoma screening, warranting further studies to establish its efficacy. For glaucoma management, both the sensitivity and specificity must be further improved before it could be put into extensive use. Nevertheless, it is worthwhile to explore the possible extensive application of teleglaucoma in monitoring "glaucoma suspects" and maintaining glaucoma follow-up during a pandemic outbreak to reduce the risk of transmission of infection.

MeSH Terms

COVID-19Delivery of Health CareDisease OutbreaksGlaucomaHealth Services AccessibilityHumansOcular HypertensionOphthalmologyProspective StudiesRemote ConsultationRetrospective StudiesSARS-CoV-2Telemedicine

Shields Classification

IntroAn Overview of Glaucoma

Ch. 9Clinical Epidemiology of Glaucoma

Ch. 27Management of the Glaucoma Patient

Key Concepts6

Teleglaucoma, when compared to in-person care, is more time and cost-effective, shows high patient satisfaction, and demonstrates fair to good agreement with in-person care.

Comparative EffectivenessReviewLiterature Reviewn=14 relevant articlesCh1Ch28

There is great variation in the reported sensitivity of glaucoma screening using teleglaucoma, warranting further studies to establish its efficacy.

MethodologyReviewLiterature Reviewn=14 relevant articlesCh1Ch10

For glaucoma management using teleglaucoma, both the sensitivity and specificity must be further improved before it could be put into extensive use.

MethodologyReviewLiterature Reviewn=14 relevant articlesCh1Ch28

It is worthwhile to explore the possible extensive application of teleglaucoma in monitoring "glaucoma suspects" and maintaining glaucoma follow-up during a pandemic outbreak to reduce the risk of infection transmission.

PrognosisExpert OpinionLiterature Reviewn=14 relevant articlesCh1Ch11Ch28

A literature search on teleglaucoma published human studies was conducted on May 12, 2020, using search terms including "telemedicine" and "glaucoma" in English over the prior 10 years, yielding 14 relevant articles after manual curation.

MethodologyReviewLiterature Reviewn=14 relevant articlesCh1

Of the 14 articles identified in a literature review on teleglaucoma, 4 were from the same randomized control trial, 7 were prospective studies, 2 were retrospective studies, 1 was descriptive analysis, and 1 was cost-effective analysis.