Table 1.
Summary of selected relevant studies for teleglaucoma
| Study | Study design | Number of | Study aim | Uses of | Significant findings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| patients | teleglaucoma | ||||
| Arora et al. (2014) (3) | prospective comparative study | 131 | To investigate the cycle time and access time between teleglaucoma and in person glaucoma care | Glaucoma management | Teleglaucoma is a more efficient way of managing patients with early stage glaucoma when compared with in person assessment |
| Clarke et al. (2017) (9) | prospective study | 204 | To investigate the agreement in determination of glaucoma status made in a virtual glaucoma clinic and face to face consultation | Glaucoma management | Virtual glaucoma clinic is a safe option and viable option for selective patients with glaucoma because of the low incidence of adverse misclassification and the slowly progressive nature of glaucoma |
| Gupta et al. (2013) (13) | Prospective study | 247 | To compare the use of teleophthalmology using indigenous equipment, compared to the clinical assessment in terms of the level of agreement and sensitivity and specificity of diagnosis and management different eye diseases | Glaucoma screening and management | Teleophthalmology was found to be effective in diagnosis and management decision of various eye diseases. |
| Hark et al. (2017) (15) | prospective, RCT | 906 | To discuss the screening results from the Philadelphia telemedicine glaucoma detection and follow up study | Glaucoma screening | Telemedicine screening intervention in primary care can be able to detect high rate of suspicious optic nerves, retinal diseases and ocular hypertension. |
| Hark et al. (2019) (16) | prospective study | 902 | To examine the use of IOP measurement, used in addition to nonmydriatic fundus photography in glaucoma telemedicine screening | Glaucoma screening | Telemedicine vision screening programs with IOP measurement in high-risk populations is applicable. |
| Hark, Acito et al. (2018) (14) | prospective, RCT | 184 | To examine the use of tele medicine for the detection of glaucoma and other eye diseases in primary care clinics | Glaucoma screening | Telemedicine was found to be useful in early detection of glaucoma and other ocular pathology |
| Hark Myers et al. (2018) (17) | prospective RCT | 906 | To discover determinants of unreadable fundus images in the Philadelphia Telemedicine Glaucoma Detection and Follow-up Study | Glaucoma screening | Understanding the causes of unreadable fundus images is likely to optimize the predictive accuracy, efficiency, and cost in ophthalmology in telemedicine |
| Kassam et al. (2013) (21) | Prospective study | 257 | To evaluate the use of teleglaucoma in the University of Alberta in 2011 | Glaucoma screening and management | The use of teleglaucoma is able to improve the diagnosis and management of glaucoma in industrialized and developing countries. |
| Kiage et al. (2013) (22) | prospective study | 309 | To compare a web-based teleglaucoma assessment with clinical slit lamp examination for the glaucoma screening among diabetics in a rural African district. | Glaucoma screening | Agreement between the ability to diagnose glaucoma using teleglaucoma when compared to clinical slit lamp examination was found to be moderate |
| Rathi et al. (2017) (27) | descriptive analysis | N/A | To describe the use of teleophthalmology in the hospital and outpatient settings | Glaucoma screening and management | Ophthalmic telemedicine in the United States is in its developing phase but may be able to improve compliance to evidence-based protocols. |
| Staffieri et al. (2011) (32) | prospective study | 133 | To evaluate the use of a telemedicine model in terms of decreasing glaucoma blindness through the early detection of undiagnosed glaucoma in high-risk individuals | Glaucoma screening | Telemedicine is an efficient way for screening, grading, and showing participants of examination results |
| Thomas et al. (2015) (33) | cost-effectiveness analysis | Population in rural Canada (exact number not specified) | To measure the cost effectiveness of teleglaucoma rural Canada | Glaucoma screening | Teleglaucoma allows better access to ophthalmic care and improves healthcare efficiency, specifically in rural areas. It also improve cost benefits. |
| Verma et al. (2014) (34) | Retrospective study | 247 | To evaluate the diagnostic outcomes and referral pathways of patients participated in a collaborative care patient centred teleglaucoma program | Glaucoma screening | Most patients did not require in-person consultation and can be managed by distance collaboration. Further investigations in the cost effectiveness for the program is needed |
| Wright et al. (2015) (36) | Retrospective study | 24257 | To determine the significance of specialist supervision in a new model of glaucoma service delivery | Glaucoma screening | Virtual review of glaucoma can reduce the chance of patients treated unnecessarily and reduce the demand for glaucoma appoints. |