The aim of this study was to explore the role of teleophthalmology consulting in improving glaucoma diagnosis.

This study was retrospective case series. Participants were included patients from the Center of Teleophthalmology Consultation and subjects from population-based eye screening. The Center of Teleophthalmology Consultation was established in Beijing Tongren Hospital, Beijing Institute of Ophthalmology. Patients were collected from the remote consultation platform and analyzed with the diagnosis of glaucoma patients. The detection rate of glaucoma in population-based ophthalmological screening undertaken in Beijing during the same period, was compared to the detection rate of glaucoma from the remote consultation platform. The role of ophthalmological consultation platform for glaucoma detection was analyzed. Glaucoma detection rates in patients from the Center of teleophthalmology consultation and population-based eye screeners were compared. The constituent ratio of mild glaucoma was calculated.

A total of 493 221 subjects were collected from the Center of teleophthalmology consultation platform. Among them, 11 538 (2.34%) were diagnosed as glaucoma, 2174 (0.44%) were diagnosed as suspicious glaucoma, and the detection rate of glaucoma and suspicious glaucoma was 2.78%. During the same period, 20 861 subjects from the population-basedeye diseases screening in Beijing was enrolled in this study, 417 patients (1.79%) were diagnosed as glaucoma, 33 cases (0.16%) were diagnosed as suspicious glaucoma, and 1.95% were diagnosed as glaucoma and suspicious glaucoma. Pearson chi-square test showed no statistically significant difference in the detection rate of glaucoma between two groups of subjects ( χ²=2.0, P>0.05). The constituent ratio of mild glaucoma from the teleophthalmology consultation glaucoma patients was 12.5%, this constituent ratio was 33.6%in population-based screening glaucoma patients.

Using internet technology and ophthalmic image diagnostic criteria, the effect of glaucoma detection from the teleophthalmology consultation is equal to that of eye diseases screening in population. Therefore, the moving of patients or doctors can be replaced by the flow of information technology.