Cost Analysis of Teleretinal Screening for Diabetic Retinopathy in a County Hospital Population

Diabetic Retinopathy: A Position Statement by the American Diabetes Association

“…More recent literature on cost-effectiveness has now focused on the impact of telemedicine on the detection and eventual management of diabetic retinopathy (41). Multiple studies have argued both in support of and against whether telemedicine represents an improvement over eye care provider–based screening (42,43). Although a consensus has yet to be reached, telemedicine appears to be most effective when the ratio of providers to patients is low, the distance to reach a provider is prohibitive, or the alternative is no patient screening (44).…”

Review of economic evaluations of teleophthalmology as a screening strategy for chronic eye disease in adults

“…Phan et al 31 reported an average cost reduction of $24.3 per screen and a gain of 53% of the investment cost. Referral for comprehensive eye examination was limited to 15% of patients with DR in at least one eye and 20% who had at least one unreadable image thus decreasing physician workload.…”

“…Increased number of patients screened by teleophthalmology coupled with high prevalence of disease increased cost-effectiveness. Other factors that influenced cost-effectiveness included patient age,22 frequency of screening23 and full utilisation of the equipment 3137–39.…”

Telemedicine for screening diabetic retinopathy: The NO BLIND Italian multicenter study

“…This exploits nonmydriatic fundus imaging and can be carried out by either a diabetologist or any other trained personnel. In such a way, telemedicine represents a highly accurate solution for tele‐retinal evaluation, as it delivers the screening to a population who otherwise would be excluded …”

“…In such a way, telemedicine represents a highly accurate solution for tele-retinal evaluation, as it delivers the screening to a population who otherwise would be excluded. 10 In many countries, especially in the United States, adequate screening programmes have still been applied, providing with a substantial reduction of blindness and important savings in terms of socio-sanitary economy. 11,12 In Italy, the current standard fundus oculi examination is in mydriasis, whilst no National Screening Programme for DR in amydriasis has been applied yet.…”