A comparative clinical study of postoperative care by teleophthalmology and in-person consultation at hospital outpatient department after an uncomplicated cataract surgery

BACKGROUND: Teleophthalmology provides an opportunity to conduct consultations in far-flung and remote areas that have no access to specialized eye care. However, there is a paucity of studies to assess the effect of missing in-person follow-up on initial postoperative visits. The study thus aims to compare postoperative satisfaction and uncorrected distance visual activity after an uneventful phacoemulsification cataract surgery in patients with teleconsultation approach to those with hospital visit. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The prospective observation study (n = 240) was conducted in patients who underwent surgery for cataract. Pre- and post-operative data were collected and divided into two groups based on the type of postoperative follow-up. All patients were scheduled for ophthalmic reviews in the hospital on day 1, day 7, and day 30–40 (hospital visit group) or through teleconsultation on days 1 and 7 followed by a hospital visit on days 30–40 (teleconsultation group). Outcomes evaluated in both groups were complications, patient satisfaction, and uncorrected distance visual acuity. RESULTS: Most patients in both groups were in the age group of 51–70 years. Overall satisfaction was comparable in teleconsultation and hospital visit groups (3.74 ± 0.23 vs. 3.72 ± 0.27; P = 0.22). The majority of patients had visual acuity 6/18-6/6 on postoperative day 1, day 7, and day 30–40 in both groups. Lid edema, pain, redness, watering, and congestion complications were more in the hospital visit group on postoperative day 1. CONCLUSION: The study concludes that patients with no preexisting ocular and systemic comorbidity undergoing an uneventful phacoemulsification cataract surgery teleconsultation approach can be used for follow-up without any impact on the postoperative visual outcome and patient satisfaction, thereby increasing the efficiency and productivity of health-care system.