Live teleophthalmology avoids escalation of referrals to secondary care during COVID-19 lockdown.

Clinical Relevance: Following the COVID-19 lockdown, uptake of slitlamp-enabled live teleophthalmology increased. Its use contributed to a reduction of referrals escalated to secondary care during-lockdown (avoided: 64% pre-lockdown vs 86% during-lockdown).

Background: Live teleophthalmology using video conferencing allows real-time, three-way consultation between secondary care, community providers and patients, improving interpretation of slit lamp findings and potentially reducing referrals to secondary care.

Teleophthalmology-Enabled Direct Vitreoretinal Surgery Listing from Community Optometric Practice: Enhanced Efficiency During Coronavirus Disease 2019, and Beyond?

To share a method of appropriately connecting patients directly to tertiary ophthalmology centers where subspecialist vitreoretinal (VR) surgical management is required during coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). We present our experience of a live teleophthalmology link directly connecting an optometrist to tertiary center VR team at the point of retinal detachment presentation within the community. After the COVID-19 lockdown in National Health Service Forth Valley, Emergency Eye Care Treatment Centers have been set up where optometrists are the first point of contact for patients in the community.