• A study conducted by the LV Prasad Eye Institute at Hyderabad, Telangana assessed the economic and environmental impact of teleophthalmology services provided by them at their primary (rural) and tertiary (urban) eyecare networks.

• The findings from the study were as follows -

1. The environmental impact was assessed by the “carbon emissions saved” by various potential transport methods utilized by the patients.

2. The economic impact was calculated by the “potential direct (travel expenses) and indirect (wages lost, food expenses) costs saved” by the patient.

3. Among 173 patients seen at the primary setup, 2.89 kg of CO2 emissions and 80 km of travel were saved per person, while INR 19970 and INR 29100 were saved in direct and indirect costs, respectively.

4. For 151 patients seen at the urban setup, 176.6 kg of CO2 emissions and 1666 km of travel per person were saved, while INR 758870 and INR 347800 were saved in direct and indirect costs, respectively.

• Thus, the authors called for greater emphasis on telemedicine as an economically and environmentally viable mode of treatment.

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