Teleophthalmology: A Case of Eye Care Delivery

Abstract

As a result of COVID-19, a new approach for delivering eye care services to rural underprivileged areas were needed to improve eye disease outcomes. Sitapur Eye Hospital used a door-to-door model of medical delivery to alleviate the inability of rural residents from not receiving appropriate eye care during the COVID-19 pandemic. Sitapur Eye Hospital utilizes a healthcare delivery model that involves visiting patients door-to-door. The total number of patients that Sitapur Eye Hospital examined went from screening no patients in the months of April and May to screening 31,017 patients via the door-to-door service that was implemented in June 2020. Sitapur Eye Hospital managed to keep the prevalence of people who had severe eye impairment at pre-pandemic levels by offering a door-to-door service to patients who were unable to access appropriate medical care. The door-to-door healthcare model shows that leveraging telehealth and ride-hailing services alleviate certain barriers that make it difficult for people in rural areas to access eye care.