Can Tele-Neuro-Ophthalmology Be Useful Beyond the Pandemic?

Curr Neurol Neurosci Rep. 2023 Feb;23(2):15-23. doi: 10.1007/s11910-022-01248-w. Epub 2023 Jan 7.

Abstract

Purpose of the review: Neuro-ophthalmologists rapidly adopted telehealth during the COVID-19 pandemic to minimize disruption to patient care. This article reviews recent research on tele-neuro-ophthalmology adoption, current limitations, and potential use beyond the pandemic. The review considers how digital transformation, including machine learning and augmented reality, may be applied to future iterations of tele-neuro-ophthalmology.

Recent findings: Telehealth utilization has been sustained among neuro-ophthalmologists throughout the pandemic. Adoption of tele-neuro-ophthalmology may provide solutions to subspecialty workforce shortage, patient access, physician wellness, and trainee educational needs within the field of neuro-ophthalmology. Digital transformation technologies have the potential to augment tele-neuro-ophthalmology care delivery by providing automated workflow solutions, home-based visual testing and therapies, and trainee education via simulators. Tele-neuro-ophthalmology use has and will continue beyond the COVID-19 pandemic. Digital transformation technologies, when applied to telehealth, will drive and revolutionize the next phase of tele-neuro-ophthalmology adoption and use in the years to come.

Keywords: Artificial intelligence; Augmented reality; Neuro-ophthalmology; Pandemic; Telehealth; Telemedicine.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • COVID-19*
  • Humans
  • Neurology*
  • Ophthalmology* / education
  • Pandemics
  • Telemedicine*