eyeConnect

The eyeConnect platform allows patients' assessment at the location where they present, for example in a remote community, rather than having to travel to a specialist. Whether the patient presents as an emergency case or for screening purposes, the patient can be assessed locally and a decision on the course of treatment decided with the aid of the remote specialist. The platform collects a standard package of diagnostic information including: • Patient history • Acuity test results • Intra-ocular pressure measurement, • High resolution slit light, diffuse light and corneal fluorescein photographs. This information, shared via a secure cloud storage environment, is used to reveal details of eye injury or disease.

The eyeConnect, developed in conjunction with the Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital (RVEEH) in Melbourne, extends the reach of eye care services. It enables accurate screening and assessment to be conducted at locations remote to eye specialists, whether they be 5 or 5,000kms away. This prevents unnecessary trips for patients to major medical centres - ideal for people living in remote and regional areas. Remote screening reduces waiting times and burden on hospitals emergency departments. Patients can also be treated sooner and more effectively. Clinicians who perform surgery in multiple locations can also equip secondary sites with the eyeConnect, allowing post-operative follow up to be conducted remotely.

The eyeConnect can be used to capture detailed patient information and images at clinics, GP offices, and even pharmacies. The simple, intuitive hardware and software interfaces require little training to use correctly, without reference to a user manual. A step-by-step questionnaire, developed specifically by the RVEEH, maximises the relevant patient information from the minimum number of questions. The platform has been developed to minimise operator adjustments and provides a simple step-by-step process for the information capture.

A complete patient information package can be compiled and sent to the specialist at any hour. An easily accessed web browser interface allows the specialist to review data anywhere at any time. The patient is no longer required to attend a major medical facility to receive care, and the eye specialist is no longer tied to the office to provide it. The eyeConnect is removing barriers of both location and office hours, especially in emergency situations.

One of the barriers to getting information about patients with eye conditions is the complexity of existing equipment. This equipment is usually highly specific and out of reach due to purchase cost and training required. Weighing only 9kg and with a small footprint of 325 x 411mm, the eyeConnect can be accommodated in most medical environments to expand their capabilities. At a fraction of the price of traditional equipment, portable and easy to set up, it is accessible to a wide range of facilities. While the eyeConnect was recently launched in Australia only, it has the potential to allow third world countries in particular to do more with less, elevating the level of eye care on a global scale.