{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,23]],"date-time":"2026-09-23T13:07:15Z","timestamp":1790168835299,"version":"4.1.0"},"reference-count":29,"publisher":"Springer Science and Business Media LLC","issue":"14","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2026,7,15]],"date-time":"2026-07-15T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1784073600000},"content-version":"tdm","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0"},{"start":{"date-parts":[[2026,7,15]],"date-time":"2026-07-15T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1784073600000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0"}],"content-domain":{"domain":["link.springer.com"],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["Eye"],"published-print":{"date-parts":[[2026,10]]},"abstract":"<jats:title>Abstract<\/jats:title>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Background and objectives<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>Clinical ophthalmology often depends on imaging to support accurate diagnoses. However, traditional tabletop imaging machines often fail to accommodate patients with mobility impairments. Despite this, few clinical settings routinely use accessible ophthalmic imaging devices to address these concerns. This study aims to identify perceived barriers to the uptake of accessible ophthalmic imaging devices to inform changes and improve patient care.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Methods<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>In this exploratory mixed-methods survey study, a questionnaire was distributed to ophthalmology care providers across Australia from 2023 to 2024. Outcomes included perceived barriers to implementing accessible imaging equipment, perspectives on these devices and features improving accessibility.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Results<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>\n                      The questionnaire returned 51 responses, equally distributed between public (51.3%,\n                      <jats:italic>n<\/jats:italic>\n                      \u2009=\u200920\/39) and private (48.7%,\n                      <jats:italic>n<\/jats:italic>\n                      \u2009=\u200919\/39) metropolitan healthcare settings. Participants included ophthalmic nurses (29.4%,\n                      <jats:italic>n<\/jats:italic>\n                      \u2009=\u200915\/51), ophthalmology trainees (21.6%,\n                      <jats:italic>n<\/jats:italic>\n                      \u2009=\u200911\/51), optometrists (17.6%,\n                      <jats:italic>n<\/jats:italic>\n                      \u2009=\u20099\/51), orthoptists (13.7%,\n                      <jats:italic>n<\/jats:italic>\n                      \u2009=\u20097\/51), ophthalmologists (7.8%,\n                      <jats:italic>n<\/jats:italic>\n                      \u2009=\u20094\/51) and ophthalmic clinical assistants (9.8%,\n                      <jats:italic>n<\/jats:italic>\n                      \u2009=\u20095\/51). Imaging was most difficult to provide for patients using wheelchairs (39.5%,\n                      <jats:italic>n<\/jats:italic>\n                      \u2009=\u200915\/38). While most practitioners (74.4%,\n                      <jats:italic>n<\/jats:italic>\n                      \u2009=\u200929\/39) were confident that accessible devices returned reliable images, 48.7% (\n                      <jats:italic>n<\/jats:italic>\n                      \u2009=\u200919\/39) identified cost as a barrier, and 39.2% (\n                      <jats:italic>n<\/jats:italic>\n                      \u2009=\u200920\/51) believed accessible devices were still difficult to use in patients with disabilities. Respondents reported that better design of tabletop-mounted systems, adaptability, training and funding would improve uptake and use of accessible devices.\n                    <\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Conclusions<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>Accessibility for patients with mobility impairments needs further development. Intuitive design and access to funding may be key to improving the quality of care. Further studies should focus on patient perspectives and specific design features.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>","DOI":"10.1038\/s41433-026-04751-3","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2026,7,15]],"date-time":"2026-07-15T13:30:27Z","timestamp":1784122227000},"page":"2288-2295","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1007\/springer_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":0,"title":["Barriers to accessible ophthalmic imaging device uptake: an exploratory study of ophthalmology care provider perspectives"],"prefix":"10.1038","volume":"40","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-9295-4976","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Julia R.","family":"Yamazaki-Tan","sequence":"first","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Alexandra I.","family":"Manta","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Mark H. B.","family":"Radford","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"297","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2026,7,15]]},"reference":[{"key":"4751_CR1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"169","DOI":"10.1016\/j.dhjo.2009.05.003","volume":"2","author":"MF Story","year":"2009","unstructured":"Story MF, Schwier E, Kailes JI. Perspectives of patients with disabilities on the accessibility of medical equipment: examination tables, imaging equipment, medical chairs, and weight scales. Disabil Health J. 2009;2:169\u201379.","journal-title":"Disabil Health J"},{"key":"4751_CR2","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"653","DOI":"10.1682\/JRRD.2015.01.0002","volume":"52","author":"KL Frost","year":"2015","unstructured":"Frost KL, Bertocci G, Stillman MD, Smalley C, Williams S. Accessibility of outpatient healthcare providers for wheelchair users: pilot study. J Rehabil Res Dev. 2015;52:653\u201362.","journal-title":"J Rehabil Res Dev"},{"key":"4751_CR3","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Gammons M. Medical imaging for persons with mobility limitations. In: Hollar D, editor. Advances in exercise and health for people with mobility limitations. Cham: Springer International Publishing; 2019.","DOI":"10.1007\/978-3-319-98452-0_9"},{"key":"4751_CR4","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"441","DOI":"10.7326\/0003-4819-158-6-201303190-00003","volume":"158","author":"T Lagu","year":"2013","unstructured":"Lagu T, Hannon NS, Rothberg MB, Wells AS, Green KL, Windom MO, et al. Access to subspecialty care for patients with mobility impairment: a survey. Ann Intern Med. 2013;158:441\u20136.","journal-title":"Ann Intern Med"},{"key":"4751_CR5","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"64","DOI":"10.11606\/s1518-8787.2022056003893","volume":"56","author":"KAP Clemente","year":"2022","unstructured":"Clemente KAP, Silva SVD, Vieira GI, Bortoli MC, Toma TS, Ramos VD, et al. Barriers to the access of people with disabilities to health services: a scoping review. Rev Saude Publica. 2022;56:64.","journal-title":"Rev Saude Publica"},{"key":"4751_CR6","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1076","DOI":"10.1148\/rg.2016150198","volume":"36","author":"DM Fursevich","year":"2016","unstructured":"Fursevich DM, LiMarzi GM, O\u2019Dell MC, Hernandez MA, Sensakovic WF. Bariatric CT imaging: challenges and solutions. Radiographics. 2016;36:1076\u201386.","journal-title":"Radiographics"},{"key":"4751_CR7","unstructured":"Tafti A, Byerly DW. X-ray radiographic patient positioning. StatPearls. Treasure Island (FL) ineligible companies. Disclosure: Doug Byerly declares no relevant financial relationships with ineligible companies. StatPearls Publishing LLC.2025."},{"key":"4751_CR8","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1186\/s12913-023-09336-4","volume":"23","author":"K McBride-Henry","year":"2023","unstructured":"McBride-Henry K, Nazari Orakani S, Good G, Roguski M, Officer TN. Disabled people\u2019s experiences accessing healthcare services during the COVID-19 pandemic: a scoping review. BMC Health Serv Res. 2023;23:346.","journal-title":"BMC Health Serv Res"},{"key":"4751_CR9","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"367","DOI":"10.1007\/s12062-017-9203-5","volume":"11","author":"R Ofori-Asenso","year":"2018","unstructured":"Ofori-Asenso R, Zomer E, Curtis AJ, Zoungas S, Gambhir M. Measures of population ageing in Australia from 1950 to 2050. J Popul Ageing. 2018;11:367\u201385.","journal-title":"J Popul Ageing"},{"key":"4751_CR10","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"713","DOI":"10.1016\/j.pmr.2017.06.005","volume":"28","author":"M Cruz-Jimenez","year":"2017","unstructured":"Cruz-Jimenez M. Normal changes in gait and mobility problems in the elderly. Phys Med Rehabil Clin N Am. 2017;28:713\u201325.","journal-title":"Phys Med Rehabil Clin N Am"},{"key":"4751_CR11","unstructured":"Australian Institute of Health and Welfare. Dementia in Australia. AIHW, Australian Government; 2025."},{"key":"4751_CR12","unstructured":"Australian Bureau of Statistics. Disability, Ageing and Carers, Australia: Summary of Findings 2022. Available from: https:\/\/www.abs.gov.au\/statistics\/health\/disability\/disability-ageing-and-carers-australia-summary-findings\/latest-release#cite-window1."},{"key":"4751_CR13","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Challen R, Low LF, McEntee MF. Dementia patient care in the diagnostic medical imaging department. Radiography. 2018;1:33\u201342.","DOI":"10.1016\/j.radi.2018.05.012"},{"key":"4751_CR14","unstructured":"Australian Institute of Health & Welfare. Overweight and obesity 2022. Available from: https:\/\/www.aihw.gov.au\/reports\/australias-health\/overweight-and-obesity."},{"key":"4751_CR15","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"741","DOI":"10.1109\/TBME.2010.2096816","volume":"58","author":"W Jung","year":"2011","unstructured":"Jung W, Kim J, Jeon M, Chaney EJ, Stewart CN, Boppart SA. Handheld optical coherence tomography scanner for primary care diagnostics. IEEE Trans Biomed Eng. 2011;58:741\u20134.","journal-title":"IEEE Trans Biomed Eng"},{"key":"4751_CR16","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"2307","DOI":"10.1364\/BOE.4.002307","volume":"4","author":"F LaRocca","year":"2013","unstructured":"LaRocca F, Nankivil D, Farsiu S, Izatt JA. Handheld simultaneous scanning laser ophthalmoscopy and optical coherence tomography system. Biomed Opt Express. 2013;4:2307\u201321.","journal-title":"Biomed Opt Express"},{"key":"4751_CR17","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"2623","DOI":"10.1364\/BOE.10.002623","volume":"10","author":"C Viehland","year":"2019","unstructured":"Viehland C, Chen X, Tran-Viet D, Jackson-Atogi M, Ortiz P, Waterman G, et al. Ergonomic handheld OCT angiography probe optimized for pediatric and supine imaging. Biomed Opt Express. 2019;10:2623\u201338.","journal-title":"Biomed Opt Express"},{"key":"4751_CR18","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1185","DOI":"10.1136\/bjo.84.10.1185","volume":"84","author":"DA Hollander","year":"2000","unstructured":"Hollander DA, Volpe NJ, Moster ML, Liu GT, Balcer LJ, Judy KD, et al. Use of a portable head mounted perimetry system to assess bedside visual fields. Br J Ophthalmol. 2000;84:1185\u201390.","journal-title":"Br J Ophthalmol"},{"key":"4751_CR19","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Kunumpol P, Lerthirunvibul N, Phienphanich P, Munthuli A, Tantisevi V, Manassakorn A, et al. GlauCUTU: Virtual Reality Visual Field Test. Annu Int Conf IEEE Eng Med Biol Soc. 2021;2021:7416\u201321.","DOI":"10.1109\/EMBC46164.2021.9629827"},{"key":"4751_CR20","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1516","DOI":"10.1016\/j.survophthal.2022.02.001","volume":"67","author":"MKI Ma","year":"2022","unstructured":"Ma MKI, Saha C, Poon SHL, Yiu RSW, Shih KC, Chan YK. Virtual reality and augmented reality- emerging screening and diagnostic techniques in ophthalmology: a systematic review. Surv Ophthalmol. 2022;67:1516\u201330.","journal-title":"Surv Ophthalmol"},{"key":"4751_CR21","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"2032","DOI":"10.1016\/j.apmr.2019.02.007","volume":"100","author":"N Agaronnik","year":"2019","unstructured":"Agaronnik N, Campbell EG, Ressalam J, Iezzoni LI. Accessibility of medical diagnostic equipment for patients with disability: observations from physicians. Arch Phys Med Rehabil. 2019;100:2032\u20138.","journal-title":"Arch Phys Med Rehabil"},{"key":"4751_CR22","unstructured":"Microsoft Corporation. Microsoft Excel (Version 2606) [Computer Software]. Microsoft Corporation. 2026. Available from https:\/\/www.microsoft.com\/en-au\/microsoft-365\/excel."},{"key":"4751_CR23","first-page":"46254","volume":"15","author":"AI Saifi","year":"2023","unstructured":"Saifi AI, Nagrale P, Ansari KK, Saifi I, Chaurasia S. Advancement in understanding glaucoma: a comprehensive review. Cureus. 2023;15:46254.","journal-title":"Cureus"},{"key":"4751_CR24","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"20","DOI":"10.1186\/s40942-015-0022-7","volume":"1","author":"R Schwartz","year":"2015","unstructured":"Schwartz R, Loewenstein A. Early detection of age-related macular degeneration: current status. Int J Retin Vitr. 2015;1:20.","journal-title":"Int J Retin Vitr"},{"key":"4751_CR25","unstructured":"Australian Commission on Safety & Quality in Healthcare. Diagnostic Imaging Accreditation Scheme Standards. 2016."},{"key":"4751_CR26","unstructured":"Australian Commission on Safety & Quality in Healthcare, National Medical Imaging Standards (Draft) 2025."},{"key":"4751_CR27","unstructured":"Australian Institute of Health and Welfare. Eye health. AIHW, Australian Government; 2021."},{"key":"4751_CR28","unstructured":"Australian Institute of Health and Welfare. Rural and remote health. AIHW, Australian Government; 2025."},{"key":"4751_CR29","unstructured":"Australian Government Department of Health DaA. Department of Health Australia\u2019s Future Health Workforce \u2013 Ophthalmology 2018."}],"container-title":["Eye"],"original-title":[],"language":"en","link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/www.nature.com\/articles\/s41433-026-04751-3.pdf","content-type":"application\/pdf","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"text-mining"},{"URL":"https:\/\/www.nature.com\/articles\/s41433-026-04751-3","content-type":"text\/html","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"text-mining"},{"URL":"https:\/\/www.nature.com\/articles\/s41433-026-04751-3.pdf","content-type":"application\/pdf","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,23]],"date-time":"2026-09-23T12:45:34Z","timestamp":1790167534000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/www.nature.com\/articles\/s41433-026-04751-3"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2026,7,15]]},"references-count":29,"journal-issue":{"issue":"14","published-print":{"date-parts":[[2026,10]]}},"alternative-id":["4751"],"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1038\/s41433-026-04751-3","relation":{},"ISSN":["0950-222X","1476-5454"],"issn-type":[{"value":"0950-222X","type":"print"},{"value":"1476-5454","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2026,7,15]]},"assertion":[{"value":"23 May 2025","order":1,"name":"received","label":"Received","group":{"name":"ArticleHistory","label":"Article History"}},{"value":"14 June 2026","order":2,"name":"revised","label":"Revised","group":{"name":"ArticleHistory","label":"Article History"}},{"value":"7 July 2026","order":3,"name":"accepted","label":"Accepted","group":{"name":"ArticleHistory","label":"Article History"}},{"value":"15 July 2026","order":4,"name":"first_online","label":"First Online","group":{"name":"ArticleHistory","label":"Article History"}},{"value":"The authors declare no competing interests.","order":1,"name":"Ethics","label":"Competing interests","group":{"name":"EthicsHeading","label":"Ethics"}}]}}