Teleophthalmology and its impact- An eye disease pattern analysis in central India’s hot spot during COVID-19 pandemic

Abstract

COVID-19 pandemic has put all of us in astonishment and concern about its management and survival of human being since there is a great risk of human to human transmission. Teleophthalmology can play a great role to overcome this situation. Earlier teleophthalmology was mainly limited to diagnoistic reachout camps for diabetic eye disease mainly without treatment benefit to the patient. Now with advancement in media technology and availability of good quality smart phones, it is possible to extend scope of teleophthalmlogy for the treatment of superficial ailments of an eye. Our aim of the study was to analyse the eye disease pattern and impact of teleophthalmology on its management in one of the hot centre of India, i.e. Indore, during pandemic period.This study is a retrospective, interventional data analysis of patients seen in one month of Lockdown in India, from 26 March to 25 April 2020. All the patients were given teleconsultation with the help of voice calls and still pictures; video call was used wherever it was feasible. In our study, we have divided patients in two groups, first is Tele OSD (Tele Ocular Surface Disorders) where diagnosis on 2D image or video was possible and second group were OED (Other Eye Disease) where in-person consultation was required before making diagnosis or offering treatment.We have done analysis of total 119 patients records who made a call for eye problems between 26 March2020 to 25 April 2020. Out of 119 patients, 107 patients (89.91%) were in Tele OSD and 12 patients (10.08%) were in OED group. Telemedicine was prescribed in 103 patients (103/107, of tele OSD group- 96.26%), of which 102 patients (95.32%) showed marked improvement or are cured on follow-up. Among the Tele OSD group who received the treatment (103 patients), 79 patients (76.99%) were of conjunctivitis, varying from infectious to allergic origin who responded very well to treatment offered.COVID-19 pandemic has changed the understanding of medical science. Previously telemedicine (more precisely teleophthalmology) used to be a tool for outreach patient diagnosis mainly in rural or suburb area, but now with the advancement of digital media and easy availability of smart phones, it can also be used in the management of common eye diseases, even in urban population.