Dr. JS Titiyal, Chief, RP centre for Ophthalmic Sciences, AIIMS, Delhi avers that pandemic conditions like Covid-19 have made us realised the importance of techonolgies to ensure healthcare of the eye patients.

In this regard, Dr Titiyal says that plans are afoot to develop a mobile app to improve the treatment and care of eye patients and create awareness about hospital admission, transplantation, and post-surgery follow-up.

He adds, "I think it's a demand of time. COVID has also made us realise that you have to approach people in a different manner because a physical approach may be difficult sometimes. It's only for people coming from far-off places."

The app will come with a camera system using which patients can share photos and consult with doctors.

"Through the application, doctors can have direct interactions with patients. There will also be a camera system, using which patients can share photos of their eyes and explain their problems and symptoms. Doctors can diagnose them, and if the patients are registered with us, we can tell them the timeframe for admission and surgery at the centre," he says.

He further points out patients can also be called in on priority based on their disease progression. The app will also help track patients who have undergone transplantation and after a transplant surgery, follow-up becomes quite difficult, the doctor says.

"If somebody develops a rejection of a transplant, it has to be taken care of within a few days. If the patient comes after one or two weeks, you cannot reverse the rejection.

“If such a patient is tracked, he or she can be rushed to a nearby hospital so that the graft can be saved. It will be connected with many other hospitals.

"We will also be connected to various hospitals where people are trained to carry out transplantation or can take care of post-transplant patients," Titiyal says.