Judy Nam: Exploring telehealth and AI in eye care – Insights from my LOOK scholarship experience in the UK

In this article, she shares discoveries from her trip, focusing on how the integration of digital health technologies has shaped and enhanced the UK’s public eye care systems.

During my LOOK scholarship experience in the UK, I explored the evolving field of telehealth and AI in eye care systems. This immersive program provided me with an in-depth understanding of the technological advancements, best practices, and implementation strategies that are currently shaping their telehealth and advance optometric scope of practice. The UK, with its more mature public health system infrastructure than Australia and progressive approach to collaborative eye care models, provided an ideal environment for this learning journey.

Throughout my time, I engaged with trailblazing optometrists and ophthalmologists, gaining invaluable insights into how digital technologies can enhance eye care services in the public health systems. I attended various public eye hospitals, universities, institutes and primary care optometry clinics that showcased the latest tools and techniques for remote eye examinations and patient monitoring. One of the most enlightening aspects of my experience was observing the successful integration of an electronic medical record platform that supported bilateral telehealth communication between optometrists and ophthalmologists. This approach not only enhanced the accessibility for patients in remote areas to receive timely care but also improved the efficiency of diagnosis enabling collaborative care management. Different applications of AI were being trialled to further aid eye care professionals in clinician decision-making, with translational evidence suggesting improvements in key areas of referral refinement and follow-up care.

Now back in Australia, I am eager to apply the knowledge acquired from this experience so that as optometrists we can:

1. Maximise our existing scope of practice by integrating digital health applications into routine clinical care, both increasing clinical efficiency and futureproofing the model of care.
2. Improve the clinical workflow of referral pathways to alleviate the burden on public health systems through telehealth technologies.
3. Be ready to adopt AI and its rapidly growing family of technologies and capabilities into mainstream health system.

I am grateful for Optometry Australia in supporting the LOOK scholarship and hope that this may contribute to the larger optometry-led advocacy piece to support Australia-wide reform of the public health system that prioritises reduced wait times and overcoming geographical barriers to care.