Telemedicine Applications for Screening Diabetic Retinopathy

Diabetic retinopathy is the most common cause of blindness in the world. Telemedicine is one of the best solutions for providing highquality screening for many diabetic patients. This study was a systematic review, in which all published papers related to telemedicine application in retinopathy were reviewed during March 2001 to June 2017. Iranian databases (Irandoc, Barakat Knowledge Network System, Magiran and SID) and international databases (PubMed and Google Scholar) were searched with appropriate keywords. Out of the 59 articles retrieved in English, 11 related articles were identified and examined. Four articles focused specifically on the programs and applications for management of retinopathy, 6 papers on effectiveness and costeffectiveness of this strategy, and 1 article on the satisfaction and collaboration of caregivers. Majority of the studies were concerned with economic impacts of telemedicine application in this area. Five studies examined the efficiency of telemedicine recruitment and patients’ assessment and its ability to lower blindness occurrence. Telemedicine applications have been clinically validated and successfully implemented around the world. Lowcost and portable digital cameras are used in this approach. One of the benefits of this strategy is its high level of clinical accuracy, easy patient access, and costeffectiveness.