ABSTRACT
The progress of information and communication technologies in the era of COVID-19 created an unprecedented opportunity for medicine to adapt to new models of care. Telemedicine and telehealth have enabled medical care at a distance in various fields, including ophthalmology. The aim of this article is to review the current state and the opportunities for telemedicine in ophthalmology. Material(s) and Method(s): PubMed, ScienceDirect Database, Google Scholar databases, as well as official sites of various governmental and non-governmental institutions were explored. The search was conducted between May 1, 2022 and July 31, 2022 using as key words "teleophthalmology";"telemedicine/telehealth and ophthalmology";"ophthalmology and COVID-19". Result(s): 87 primary sources were reviewed. An exploratory analysis of the current state and application of telemedicine in ophthalmology was made. Conclusion(s): A great number of innovations have created an environment allowing for teleophthalmology to flourish, whereas the COVID-19 epidemic has accelerated the development and adoption of these digital technologies. Telemedicine has become an extremely valuable tool during a pandemic, and even if it would never fully replace in the person-to-person patient visits, it certainly has an important role in our dynamic and high-tech world. Copyright © 2023 S. Uzunova et al., published by Sciendo.
ABSTRACT
Global pandemics pose unprecedented challenges to healthcare. In the current situation, telemedicine appears to be a sustainable and effective solution in the implementation of precautions, prevention and treatment in order to discontinue the spreading of the coronavirus infection (COVID-19). The aim of this paper was to research and analyze the role of telemedicine in assistance to healthcare in the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: The PubMed Database, Google Scholar, SpringerLink, ScienceDirect (Elsevier) and sites of public authorities have been accessed and reviewed. Results: Advantages, restrictions, policy and application of telemedicine in the conditions of COVID-19 pandemic have been studied and analyzed. Conclusion: Healthcare systems are put under an extreme test during global pandemics. Telemedicine is crucial during the COVID-19 pandemic because it guarantees that patients have access to medical care.