Optometry 2040: Enabling Tele-optometry is a crucial element of achieving our preferred future

By Sarah Davies
Director, Optometry Advancement 
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We stand on the precipice of a new era in healthcare, one driven by technological advancements and increasing calls for collaborative care between professions.

The landscape of optometry and eye care is undergoing a profound transformation and technology-enabled consultations will inevitably play a crucial role in ensuring widespread access to quality eye care in the future, if they are facilitated by the adaptability and expertise of optometrists.

In 2018, Optometry Australia embarked on a project to identify the plausible, and preferred, future for optometry, optometrists and community eye care in 2040. Optometry 2040 found that in 2040, services provided by optometry will no longer be solely offered through face-to-face interaction, but instead facilitated by technology, enabling consumers to access necessary eye care services in ways adapted to a modern lifestyle.

While we did not anticipate the widespread adoption of these technologies for some time, the COVID-19 pandemic acted as a catalyst. The successful implementation of remote optometry services during the pandemic revealed the immense potential of technology to facilitate comprehensive eye care assessments, especially in rural and remote regions. It also showcased the resilience and adaptability of the optometry profession, drawing attention to a profession ready to evolve.

In 2024, optometry is overall well-distributed across the country, and outreach programs are instrumental in bridging gaps in rural and remote areas. However, challenges persist, and there is an undeniable need for innovation to ensure that every individual, regardless of their location, can access comprehensive eye care.

This need continues to drive evolution within tele-optometry. Over the last three years, several optometry service providers have established systems to support patient access to remote comprehensive examinations. This paradigm shift has demonstrated that technology, coupled with the expertise of Australian optometrists, can significantly contribute to patient outcomes via telehealth.

Disappointingly, we were unsuccessful during the pandemic in achieving the necessary MBS changes to ensure sustainable funding for these service delivery models. As a result, optometry lags behind other primary health care colleagues in the wider adoption of established and effective telehealth-enabled service delivery.

In our 2024-25 Federal pre-budget submission, Optometry Australia advocated for the implementation of crucial changes to the Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS), including the establishment of new item numbers for tele-optometry and asynchronous tele-ophthalmology. We firmly believe that these changes are not just essential for the immediate future, they are instrumental in shaping the preferred future for optometry, optometrists, and community eye health in 2040.

The implementation of MBS item numbers for both brief and comprehensive tele-optometry consultations is a crucial step in breaking down barriers in access to eye care. Optometry Australia’s proposal not only acknowledges the advancements in tele-optometry but also addresses the urgent need for patient access to tele-optometry consultations, especially where face-to-face care is not practicable. If implemented, tele-optometry would not only enhance patient access to care but also mitigate the risk of preventable vision loss.

Achieving optometry’s preferred future in 2040 also requires enabling asynchronous tele-ophthalmology, where optometrists and ophthalmologists can collaborate in a patient’s care, without the patient physically present. Collaborative efforts between optometrists and ophthalmologists, supported by high-quality digital imaging technologies, have showcased the potential to provide patient-centered care efficiently. Enabling these multidisciplinary partnerships to be flexible and responsive through extending Medicare support for asynchronous teleophthalmology, including co-payments for optometrists, is a game changing approach, reducing pressure on patients and the health system alike, ensuring timely diagnosis, management, and care.

In conclusion, the vision for 2040 is one where the synergy of technology and expertise propels optometry towards new horizons, fostering a healthier and more connected community. In this future, all Australians would access the eye care they need, in the way that best suits them – and to achieve this, we believe tele-optometry and asynchronous tele-ophthalmology must be seamlessly integrated into the fabric of optometric care.

Optometry Australia will continue to advocate for the proposed MBS item number changes, implementation of which would signify a commitment to embracing innovation, ensuring equitable access to eye care, and safeguarding the eye health of communities across Australia.