PAT IE N T C A R E
The Rise of Teleophthalmology As the pandemic prompted new concerns for doctors and their patients, Moran’s ophthalmologists found ways to adapt. Few medical exams require patients and doctors to sit face-to-face, inches apart, for a period of time. But it’s an everyday scenario when it comes to ophthalmology. The COVID-19 pandemic, necessitating physical distancing and personal protective equipment, required Moran Eye Center physicians and their colleagues across the country to innovate and accelerate the use of telehealth. Before 2020, teleophthalmology visits were mainly used for connecting eye centers with rural communities or in areas around the world, allowing specialists to help local physicians assess a patient’s condition.
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While the technology doesn’t lend itself to such things as examining peripheral vision or checking eye pressure, it
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has proven effective for specialties diagnosing apparent conditions such as droopy eyelids. At Moran, telehealth efforts have taken various forms depending on circumstance.
ADAPTING TO TELEOPHTHALMOLOGY Kathleen B. Digre, MD, is a nationally renowned specialist in neuroophthalmology. In her words, she’s also “of a certain age.” So when COVID-19 changed the landscape of health care in March 2020, she had to pivot, almost overnight, to keep up with patients’ needs while keeping herself and her patients safe. “My family was worried about exposure—to the point where they suggested I retire rather than keep working. I got it, but I have too much more to do,” she said. “I’ve adapted.”
