Investigating the Role of Optometrists in Teleophthalmology and the Implications of Increasing Access to Advanced Imaging Techniques and Digital Referral: A Systematic Search and Review

Introduction:The objective of this systematic search and review was to investigate the role of optometrists in teleophthalmology and digital referral. We examine the implications of the optometric communities’ increasing access to advanced imaging, such as optical coherence tomography (OCT), in ophthalmic telemedicine schemes.

Methods:A systematic search was conducted, using PubMed and Embase, in April of 2019. Eight hundred eight (n = 808) texts were retrieved and 99 articles were deemed eligible for full-text review. Twenty-six (n = 26) studies were included in the qualitative synthesis. All studies involved optometrists as principal service providers.

Results:Findings demonstrate that optometrist-facilitated teleophthalmology results in consistent reductions in hospital referrals and waiting times, as well as high patient satisfaction. Optometrists are identified as crucial to the success of many projects and their access to advanced imaging technology is observed to position optometry practices as the most convenient location to establish a teleophthalmology program. OCT imaging demonstrated the potential to increase diagnostic accuracy and is increasingly prevalent in optometry practice. The importance of additional training for optometrists participating in teleophthalmology schemes is highlighted, as is the need for appropriate remuneration for those involved.

Conclusion:The role of community-based ophthalmic care in reducing demands on hospital eye services (HES) is highlighted by our results, demonstrating that optometrist-facilitated teleophthalmology can dramatically reduce referrals and streamline care. In addition, the increasing prevalence of OCT in optometric practice represents an underutilized resource for HES.