Telemedicine in Ophthalmology: Cost-Effectiveness and Barriers to Widespread Adoption.

Ophthalmology, while witnessing remarkable advancements, continues to face significant hurdles in extending specialised eye care to underserved populations, particularly those in remote or economically disadvantaged regions. Portable and cost-effective telemedicine technologies are emerging as a viable solution to bridge this gap by enabling remote consultations, screenings, and continuous monitoring of ocular health. Such innovations hold immense potential to facilitate the early detection of eye diseases, extend access to specialised care, and ultimately improve visual health outcomes on a global scale.

This Research Topic centres on the transformative impact of telemedicine in ophthalmology, particularly its role in patient care, accessibility, and the prevention of avoidable blindness. It aims to identify the demographic groups that stand to gain the most from these technologies and evaluate their cost-effectiveness relative to conventional, in-person eye care practices. Exploring the economic implications of telemedicine will provide valuable insights for policymakers and healthcare administrators in making informed decisions regarding resource distribution. Additionally, the research seeks to delineate the barriers to widespread telemedicine adoption, including technological limitations, issues surrounding data security, and patient acceptance, while proposing feasible solutions to surmount these challenges.

To gather comprehensive insights, we welcome articles that delve into various dimensions of teleophthalmology, including but not limited to:

- Smartphone-based telemedicine in ocular care
- Applications of extended reality for visual assessments
- AI-driven data generation using affordable ocular health tools
- Simulating visual disorders through extended reality
- Digital monitoring systems for ocular health among seniors

Through exploring these topics, we aim to enhance the understanding and adoption of telemedicine in ophthalmology, ultimately broadening access to crucial eye care services and improving global visual health outcomes.