COVID-19 Launches Retinal Telemedicine into the Next Frontier.

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION: Telemedicine in ophthalmology, and specifically in retinal diseases, has made significant advancements in recent years. The COVID-19 pandemic has launched telehealth into a new era by creating demand from patients and physicians alike, while breaking down previous insurance, reimbursement, access and educational barriers. METHODS: This paper reviews mulitple studies demonstrating the use of telemedicine in managing various retinal conditions before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. CONCLUSION: Moving forward, promising new devices and models of care ensure that tele-retinal care will continue to expand and become a vital part of how we screen, diagnose and monitor retinal diseases.