Is Telehealth Here to Stay? The Role of Telehealth in the Screening, Diagnosis, and Management of Glaucoma

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.