The impact of teleophthalmology on rural eye health outcomes through vision centers in Dharwad

PURPOSE: The purpose of the paper is to evaluate the impact and effectiveness of teleophthalmology services facilitated through vision centers in enhancing access to quality eye care in rural areas of Dharwad district, Karnataka, India. METHODS: A prospective observational study conducted at four vision centers in Dharwad, Karnataka (Alnavar, Kalaghatagi, Noolvi, and Navalgund). Each center was equipped with a slit-lamp, fundus camera, and real-time teleconsultation system. A total of 398 patients were enrolled. Comprehensive ocular examinations were performed by trained optometrists, and cases requiring specialist input underwent live video teleconsultation with ophthalmologists. Impact was assessed by service uptake (proportion of patients completing teleconsultation). Effectiveness was measured using a validated 5-point Likert-scale patient-satisfaction questionnaire evaluating accessibility, communication, privacy, and overall satisfaction. RESULTS: Out of 398 eligible participants, 381 (95.7%) completed teleconsultation. The mean age was 39.3 ± 12.6 years. The mean consultation duration was 20.1 ± 3.2 minutes. The mean satisfaction score was 4.6 ± 0.4, with over 90% of participants rating the service as "Satisfied" or "Very satisfied." Lens-related disorders (19.8%) and refractive errors (18.7%) were most common. CONCLUSION: Teleophthalmology through vision centers achieved high uptake and patient satisfaction and was operationally feasible in this rural setting.