Inpatient Virtual Vision Clinic Improves Access to Vision Rehabilitation Before and During the COVID-19 Pandemic.
Matthew Keilty, Kevin E Houston, Caroline Collins and 6 others
PMID 33363279WHAT IT FOUND
Virtual vision consults using iPad tests and OT support increased monthly vision rehabilitation visits at an acute rehab hospital.
Access continued during the COVID-19 quarantine, though visits were lower.
Key findings
01Mean monthly vision rehabilitation visits increased by 4.2 visits, from 10.7 to 14.9 with the telemedicine service.
02During the COVID-19 quarantine, visits were not significantly affected, though they trended lower with P =.08.
03Prism was tried by the OT with virtual OD oversight in 40% of reviewed cases and accepted initially in 83%.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for OTs
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What it does not show
This was a retrospective review of a clinical pilot, not a randomised trial, so the increase in visits could have been caused by other changes at the hospital. The comparison during COVID-19 was small and uncertain, and the authors note it may have been underpowered. Only 99 of 237 telemedicine consults were reviewed in detail, and full review of 2019 records was not feasible. The apps could not examine the inside of the eye, pupil function, or intraocular pressure, so some patients needed in-person care or transfer. The usability survey had a 70% response rate from 14 of 20 providers, and some items were modified for this study. Long-term prism acceptance was not measured. The program used custom apps and a specific hospital network, so results may not transfer to other settings.
Declared interests
No funding or conflict-of-interest declaration is given in the supplied text. EyeNexo engineers modified the app suite with clinician advice, and several authors were involved in prototyping.
The easy way to misread this
Do not conclude that virtual vision rehab is equivalent to in-person eye care. The quarantine comparison was only marginal, and the apps could not examine the inside of the eye, pupil function, or intraocular pressure.