Virtual Ophthalmology: Telemedicine in a COVID-19 Era

Saleem, Sophia; Pasquale, Louis R.; Sidoti, Paul A.; Tsai, James C.

doi:10.1016/j.ajo.2020.04.029

Cited by 265 publications

(259 citation statements)

References 18 publications

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“…Despite reports of conjunctivitis and red eyes as symptoms of COVID-19, all types of conjunctivitis continued to have a statistically signi cant decrease in the 6 weeks following COVID-19, except viral conjunctivitis, which decreased in frequency but not signi cantly. [24][25][26][27][28][29][30][31][32] The largest statistically signi cant decreases were seen in post-cataract follow-up visits, as evidenced by a decrease in ICD-10 codes for posterior capsular opaci cation and pseudophakia.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Changes in Patient Visits and Diagnoses seen in an Academic Ophthalmology Department during the COVID-19 pandemic

Berkenstock¹,

Liberman

McDonnell

et al. 2020

Preprint

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BACKGROUND: To minimize the risk of viral transmission, ophthalmology practices limited face to face encounters to only patients with urgent and emergent ophthalmic conditions, in the weeks after the start of the COVID-19 epidemic in the United States. The impact of this is unknown. METHODS: We did a retrospective analysis of the change in the frequency of ICD-10 code use and patient volumes in the six weeks before and after the changes in clinical practice associated with COVID-19.RESULTS: The total number of encounters decreased four-fold after the implementation of clinic changes associated with COVID-19. The low vision, pediatric ophthalmology, general ophthalmology, and cornea divisions had the largest decrease of in-person visits. Conversely, telemedicine visits increased sixty-fold. The number of diagnostic codes associated with ocular malignancies, most ocular inflammatory disorders, and retinal conditions requiring intravitreal injections increased. ICD-10 codes associated with ocular screening exams for systemic disorders decreased during the weeks post COVID-19. CONCLUSION: Ophthalmology practices need to be prepared to experience changes in practice patterns, implementation of telemedicine, and decreased patient volumes during a pandemic. Knowing the changes specific to each subspecialty clinic is vital to redistribute available resources correctly.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Changes in Patient Visits and Diagnoses seen in an Academic Ophthalmology Department during the COVID-19 pandemic

Berkenstock¹,

Liberman

McDonnell

et al. 2020

Preprint

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…1 Since then, we entered Phase 1 of the coronavirus deescalation process, including a relaxation of face-to-face consultations. However, from the first working day after the declaration of the state of alarm in our country (Monday, March 16, 2020) to the above-mentioned date, teleophthalmology was supposed to acquire a leading role, 2 trying to attend to the strictly necessary patients, such as emergency ones, postsurgery, cases or those with ophthalmic tumors.…”

Section: To the Editormentioning

confidence: 99%

Teleoculoplastics-Teleorbit During COVID-19 Pandemic

Garrido-Hermosilla¹,

Palenque-Sánchez²,

Díaz-Ruiz³

2020

Ophthalmic Plastic &Amp; Reconstructive Surgery

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“…It can help greatly in fi ltering acute problems needing urgent visits, medication reconciliation to improve adherence, reassurance, follow-up of chronic conditions, re-assessment of care plans, re-scheduling the upcoming appointments or procedures, and for advertising telehealth service to patients. Rapid construction of a live ophthalmology telemedicine program is mandatory to save lives through social distancing [25].…”

Section: A Outpatients Clinic Outpatient Procedures and Investigatimentioning

confidence: 99%