Department of General Ophthalmology, Comprehensive Ophthalmology Fellow, Tejas Eye Hospital, Divyajyoti Trust, Mandvi, Surat, Gujarat, India.
Paediatric Ophthalmology Department, Pediatric Ophthalmologist and Anterior Segment Surgeon, Tejas Eye Hospital, Divyajyoti Trust, Mandvi, Surat, Gujarat, India.
Indian J Ophthalmol. 2023 Aug;71(8):2995-3000. doi: 10.4103/IJO.IJO_3010_22.
Early detection of sight-threatening disorders by technological applications like teleophthalmology and prompt treatment can help decrease visual impairment. This study evaluated the role of teleophthalmology in underserved rural areas along with cost-saving estimates for the end user.
A prospective, observational, cross-sectional hospital-based study was conducted over 3 months. First 1000 teleconsultations were included. None of the patients denied providing informed consent. The patients were consulted at the eight vision centers and three satellite centers of the hospital in the nearby rural and tribal regions closer to their residential places. These vision and satellite centers were connected to the base hospital like a hub and spoke model with a teleophthalmology network.
Cataract (n = 301, 30.1%) and refractive error (n = 290, 29%) were the most common diagnosis. 42.1% of patients were referred to base hospital for further evaluation. Thus, a total of 57.9% of patients were not required to visit the base hospital for initial consultation, saving time and money. Furthermore, 15.1% of patients were provided medical treatment at the vision center and satellite center, which helped in making teleophthalmology cost-saving for the patients. An average of Rs. 621/- were saved per patient for the community in our study.
Networked teleophthalmology model can be an affordable and feasible tool for providing eye care delivery services in rural and tribal regions of Gujarat and the whole country, especially for the end user. Thus, it may be a workable model in ophthalmology practice with substantial cost saving to the community.
通过远程眼科学等技术应用尽早发现威胁视力的疾病并及时治疗，可以帮助减少视力损害。本研究评估了远程眼科学在服务不足的农村地区的作用，以及为最终用户节省成本的估计。
进行了为期 3 个月的前瞻性、观察性、横断面医院基础研究。纳入了前 1000 次远程咨询。没有患者拒绝提供知情同意。这些患者在医院的八个视力中心和三个卫星中心接受咨询，这些中心位于附近的农村和部落地区，靠近他们的住所。这些视力和卫星中心与基地医院连接，形成一个类似于轮辐模型的远程眼科学网络。
白内障（n=301，30.1%）和屈光不正（n=290，29%）是最常见的诊断。42.1%的患者被转介到基地医院进行进一步评估。因此，总共有 57.9%的患者不需要到基地医院进行初步咨询，节省了时间和金钱。此外，15.1%的患者在视力中心和卫星中心接受了治疗，这有助于远程眼科学为患者节省费用。在我们的研究中，每位患者平均节省了 621 卢比/人。
联网远程眼科学模式可以成为在古吉拉特邦和全国农村和部落地区提供眼保健服务的一种负担得起且可行的工具，特别是对最终用户而言。因此，它可能是一种可行的眼科实践模式，可以为社区节省大量成本。
