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Sight‐saving science: specialist eye care using satellite technology
Author(s) -
Kanagasingam Yogesan
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
medical journal of australia
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.904
H-Index - 131
eISSN - 1326-5377
pISSN - 0025-729X
DOI - 10.5694/mja15.00638
Subject(s) - sight , satellite , optometry , computer science , remote sensing , aeronautics , medicine , engineering , geography , aerospace engineering , astronomy , physics
A special low-cost camera is used to capture full high-resolution images of a patient’s retina. The encrypted images are then securely forwarded via a broadband connection to a city-based ophthalmologist who examines them, using a system called Remote-I. More than 1100 patients — mainly Indigenous and older Australians — have now participated in trials conducted in conjunction with health authorities in Western Australia and Queensland. Satellite dishes were installed at trial sites, mainly at local medical clinics for the trials, and local nurses were trained to take the retinal photos.