Telemedicine remains a valuable tool for ophthalmology care delivery

Although telemedicine in ophthalmology is associated with a higher likelihood of requiring follow-up in-person visits, it successfully addresses the majority of patient needs with a high diagnostic accuracy, according to a study that supports its continued use in post-pandemic healthcare.

The retrospective cohort study evaluated the effectiveness of telemedicine compared to in-person visits within Kaiser Permanente Northern California from September 2020 to June 2021. The study analyzed data from 174,245 patients, focusing on the likelihood of follow-up in-person visits and patient characteristics influencing visit type.

Results showed that 27% of telemedicine patients required an in-person follow-up, compared to 13% of those with initial in-person visits. Telemedicine usage was more common among women, individuals identifying as Asian, Black, Hispanic, or other nonwhite races, and patients preferring English. Younger patients (<18) and older adults (≥65) were less likely to use telemedicine. Diagnostic accuracy for telemedicine visits was reported at 93%.

Reference
Wu EI, Reed M, Frueh B, et al. Outcomes of ophthalmology telemedicine in a large health care system beyond initial pandemic crisis. Heliyon. 2024;10(22):e39982. doi: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e39982. PMID: 39624288; PMCID: PMC11609452.