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Efficacy and Safety outcomes of a novel model to assess new medical retina referrals in a high-volume medical retina virtual clinic

Eye volume 38, pages 168–172 (2024)Cite this article

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Abstract

Background

Ophthalmology outpatient attendances have significantly increased recently with rising pressure from backlogs arising from the pandemic. Medical retina digital surveillance clinics for stable follow-up appointments are well established. We present a model for assessing new referrals and evaluating clinical outcomes and long-term sustainability in a complex high-volume medical retina service.

Methods

Suitable routine new patient referrals were identified from electronic referrals and referred to this new pathway. Structured history, visual acuities, and intraocular pressures were recorded, and widefield colour fundus and optical coherence tomography imaging were performed at a imaging hub for asynchronous consultant-led review.

Results

1458 patients were invited to attend over four months, with a 13.2% did-not-attend (DNA) rate. Common diagnoses included stable diabetic retinopathy (19.9%), early age-related macular degeneration (6.7%), central serous retinopathy (8.8%), and retinal vein occlusion (6.3%). 7 patients (0.05%) required urgent same-day review. 61 (5.0%) required urgent face-to-face (F2F) assessment within two weeks. A total of 727 (59.0%) were either discharged or remained in the virtual pathway following their first visit.

Conclusion

This study encourages the use of a digital model that efficiently assesses suitable newly referred medical retina patients in both complex and local eye unit settings. This decreased the need for F2F clinics and resources. Further patient satisfaction surveys for digital services are currently being evaluated to guide long-term sustainability of this model.

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Fig. 1: Virtual clinical pathway for new patient referrals.
Fig. 2: Age profile of patients seen in new patient digital pathway.

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Data availability

All data supporting the results are summarised within the manuscript.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK

    P. Veeramani, M. Pilar Martin-Gutierrez, R. Hamilton, T. Griggs, L. Nicholson & L. Z. Heng

  2. Manchester Royal Eye Hospital Manchester, Manchester, UK

    E. Agorogiannis

Authors
  1. P. Veeramani
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  2. M. Pilar Martin-Gutierrez
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  4. R. Hamilton
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  5. T. Griggs
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  6. L. Nicholson
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  7. L. Z. Heng
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Contributions

PV: Primary author, literature review, data analysis MPMG: Development and implementation of the new patient pathway, discussion. EA: Development and implementation of the new patient pathway, discussion. RH: Development and implementation of the new patient pathway, discussion, senior author. TG: Development and implementation of the new patient pathway. LN: Development and implementation of the new patient pathway, discussion, senior author. LZH: Development of new patient pathway, data analysis, discussion, senior author.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to L. Z. Heng.

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Veeramani, P., Pilar Martin-Gutierrez, M., Agorogiannis, E. et al. Efficacy and Safety outcomes of a novel model to assess new medical retina referrals in a high-volume medical retina virtual clinic. Eye 38, 168–172 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41433-023-02653-2

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