Tele-eye care: Perspective and acceptance among patients and eye care practitioners in Benin City

Purpose

To assess awareness, acceptance, and perceived barriers to tele-eye care among patients and eye care practitioners in Benin City, Nigeria.

Methods

A cross-sectional survey was conducted over three months among 332 patients attending clinics and 56 licensed eye care practitioners (optometrists and ophthalmologists). A structured questionnaire, adapted from prior studies, was administered via Google Forms. Practitioners received the survey through professional WhatsApp groups, while patients completed it during clinic visits. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and inferential tests (chi-square, t-tests, and logistic regression) to assess associations, with significance set at p < 0.05.

Results

Awareness of tele-eye care was modest among patients (47.6 %), and prior use was low (25.3 %), yet willingness to adopt mobile-based applications was high (88.6 %). Patients’ main concerns included reduced quality of care (81.3 %), limited personal interaction (53.0 %), and privacy risks (51.5 %). Most practitioners (93 %) were familiar with telemedicine, though only 32 % reported its use in their clinics. While 84 % believed it could expand access to care, concerns included diagnostic accuracy (67.9 %), restricted service applicability (73.2 %), and insufficient practitioner training (75 %).

Conclusion

Both patients and practitioners in Benin City expressed strong interest in tele-eye care, though actual use remains limited. Adoption is constrained by service limitations, privacy concerns, and inadequate training. Targeted practitioner education, improved digital infrastructure, and clear regulatory frameworks are needed to facilitate broader integration of tele-eye care into routine practice.