{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,8,13]],"date-time":"2026-08-13T19:35:58Z","timestamp":1786649758769,"version":"build-2736575974"},"reference-count":21,"publisher":"Ovid Technologies (Wolters Kluwer Health)","issue":"9","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2025,8,29]],"date-time":"2025-08-29T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1756425600000},"content-version":"unspecified","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"http:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-nc-sa\/4.0"}],"content-domain":{"domain":["lww.com","ovid.com"],"crossmark-restriction":true},"short-container-title":[],"published-print":{"date-parts":[[2025,9]]},"abstract":"<jats:p>This study evaluates the impact of teleconsultation services in rural communities across India through a retrospective analysis. Teleconsultation units, also referred to as vision centres (VCs), are established in multiple rural regions, each serving a population of 20,000 to 50,000. These units are equipped with a slit lamp and a fundus photography system, and are managed by trained optometrists. Communication with ophthalmologists at base hospitals is facilitated through apps, namely Skype and Remidio. Data collected from 41 such units across 9 states over 18 months, from April 2022 to September 2023, were analysed. A total of 1,91,194 patients were examined during this time. Of these, 30,840 (16.13%) were prescribed and dispensed spectacles, 57,425 (30.03%) received medication and were followed up with at the VCs, and 23,623 (12.35%) underwent free cataract surgery. Additionally, 48,657 patients (25.44%) were referred to the base hospital for further management of more complex conditions. Given India\u2019s low doctor-to-patient ratio and the challenges in accessing quality eye care in rural areas, these findings suggest that teleophthalmology is a powerful tool in bridging the healthcare gap. It not only brings accessible and affordable eye care to underserved populations but also helps reduce the burden on tertiary care centres.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.4103\/ijo.ijo_3004_24","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2025,8,29]],"date-time":"2025-08-29T16:02:09Z","timestamp":1756483329000},"page":"1371-1375","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1097\/lww.0000000000001000","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":0,"title":["Teleconsultation: Ophthalmology reaching every nook and corner"],"prefix":"10.4103","volume":"73","author":[{"given":"Ankeeta A","family":"Thali","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Cornea and Refractive Services, Sankara Eye Hospital, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, India"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Jagadeesh K","family":"Reddy","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Cornea and Refractive Services, Sankara Eye Hospital, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, 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