The Future Is Now: Incorporating Telemedicine into Glaucoma Care

Recent developments of telemedicine in glaucoma

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

Telemedicine has an increasingly significant role in the fields of ophthalmology and glaucoma. This review covers recent advancements in the development and optimization of teleglaucoma techniques and applications.

RECENT FINDINGS

Glaucoma monitoring and diagnosis via remote tonometry, perimetry, and fundus imaging have become a possibility based on recent developments. Many applications work in combination with smart devices, virtual reality, and artificial intelligence and have been tested in patient populations against conventional "reference-standard" measurement tools, demonstrating promising results. Of note, there is still much progress to be made in teleglaucoma and telemedicine at large, such as accessibility to internet, broadband, and smart devices, application affordability, and reimbursement for remote services. However, continued development and optimization of these applications suggest that the implementation of remote monitoring will be a mainstay for glaucoma patient care.

SUMMARY

Especially since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, remote patient care has taken on an important role in medicine and ophthalmology. Remote versions of tonometry, perimetry, and fundus imaging may allow for a more patient-centered and accessible future for glaucoma care.

The impact of childhood glaucoma on psychosocial functioning and quality of life: a review of the literature

We present a novel comprehensive literature review of studies of the psychosocial functioning (PF) and quality of life (QoL) of patients with childhood glaucoma and their caregivers. Our findings demonstrate variable study quality and approach, as well as inconsistent results relating to the association of glaucoma-specific factors and sociodemographic variables with measured PF and QoL. Future studies should focus on the development of culturally cognizant and standardized assessment tools, execution of multi-center longitudinal studies with global representation, evaluation of PF and QoL among siblings and childhood glaucoma providers, and implementation of interventions to improve patient and caregiver PF and QoL.

Associations between Socioeconomic Factors and Visit Adherence among Patients with Glaucoma in the All of Us Research Program

PURPOSE

To identify socioeconomic factors associated with visit adherence among patients with glaucoma in a nationwide cohort.

DESIGN

Cross-sectional study.

SUBJECTS

All subjects were participants in the National Institutes of Health All of Us Research Program. This study cohort consists of participants who were diagnosed with glaucoma and who answered the question on the Health Care Access and Utilization Survey regarding whether they have seen an eye care provider in the last 12 months.

METHODS

Descriptive analyses were conducted based on participant age, gender, race/ethnicity, insurance status, level of education, and income bracket. Multivariable logistic regression adjusting for these factors was used to generate odds ratios (ORs) for the association between socioeconomic factors and visit adherence.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE

Visit adherence, defined as reporting seeing an eye care provider in the last 12 months.

RESULTS

Among 4517 patients with glaucoma, 730 (16.3%) indicated that they had not seen or spoken to an eye doctor in the last 12 months. In multivariable models, those with some college education (OR: 1.91; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.19-3.04) and those with a college degree or advanced degree (OR: 2.25; 95% CI: 1.39-3.60) and those with the highest annual income of ≥ $200 000 (OR: 1.64; 95% CI: 1.10-2.45) were more likely to have seen an eye doctor in the past year compared with those in the lowest education and income categories, respectively.

CONCLUSION

Lower income and education levels were significantly associated with lower odds of seeing an eye doctor in the past year among all patients with glaucoma in All of Us. This highlights an important health disparity and may inform subsequent interventions to promote improved adherence to clinical guidelines regarding eye care for glaucoma monitoring and management.

FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE(S)

Proprietary or commercial disclosure may be found after the references.