The advent of the Covid-19 pandemic certainly enhanced the prevalence of Telemedicine and Tele-Opthalmology. However, it must be noted that homemade medical care is not a new concept. History proves that the telephone was used in late 1879 to reduce unnecessary hospital visits.

The same logic is applied in today's age with the help of the effective and efficient method of telemedicine.

Types of Telemedicine

Mainly there are three main types of telemedicine:

• Store and Forward

  This type of telemedicine permits doctors and healthcare professionals to retain patient information like medical images for any further diagnosis.

• Real-time Services

  Instead of face-to-face appointments, medical practitioners can provide medical attention to patients on a real-time basis. This can be done via phones, online chat, online video calls, etc.

• Remote Monitorin

  The process of remote monitoring leverages the use of technology to monitor the patient's health remotely.

Types of Tele-Ophthalmology

Since Tele-ophthalmology is a branch of telemedicine, it has its two varying types, as follows:

• Synchronous Tele-Ophthalmology

  This enables real-time interaction via video-conferencing for consultations or supervising the surgery of corneal components.

• Asynchronous Tele-Ophthalmology

  This is similar to the Store and Forward method, where ophthalmologists collect the data and retain it for the future.

Benefits of Tele-Ophthalmology

The advantages of Tele-Ophthalmology are not just related to rural areas. It is being used by people, irrespective of their geographical locations, due to the following reasons:

• Cost-efficient

  It becomes easier for patients to consult with their ophthalmologist whenever required without having to pay for transportation.

• Proper Documentation

  Tele-Ophthalmology allows the patients as well as the medical practitioner to have the necessary documentation at their disposal.

• Patient Education

  Since Tele-Ophthalmology makes it possible for the patient to see their retinas and the discrepancies, it promotes better patient education.

Conclusion

In a way, Tele-Ophthalmology is an efficient way to treat diseases like diabetic retinopathy (DR), retinopathy of prematurity, age-related macular degeneration, and glaucoma. As compared to the traditional method, it can help reach newer patients for faster diagnosis and treatment.