Clinical Optometry (Jul 2024)
Smart Devices in Optometry: Current and Future Perspectives to Clinical Optometry
Abstract
Dharani Ramamurthy,1 Sangeetha Srinivasan,2 Sruthi Chamarty,3 Tharaniy Velappan,1 Pavan Kumar Verkicharla,3 Angeline Kirubha Samuel Paulraj4 1Department of Optometry, Faculty of Medical & Health Sciences, SRM Medical College Hospital & Research Centre, SRM Institute of Science and Technology, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, 603203, India; 2Vision Research Foundation, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, 600006, India; 3Myopia Research Lab, Brien Holden Institute of Optometry and Vision Sciences, Prof Brien Holden Eye Research Centre, L V Prasad Eye Institute, Hyderabad, 500034, India; 4Department. of Biomedical Engineering, College of Engineering & Technology, SRM Institute of Science and Technology, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, 603203, IndiaCorrespondence: Dharani Ramamurthy, Department of Optometry, SRM Medical College Hospital & Research Centre, Faculty of Medical & Health Sciences, SRM Institute of Science and Technology, Kattankulathur, Tamil Nadu, 603203, India, Tel +91-44-47432650 ; +91-44-47432393, Email [email protected]: There is a huge unmet need for eye care with more than a hundred million people living without basic eye care services and facilities. There is an exigency to deploy adequate resources in terms of manpower and equipment to address this. The usage of smart devices in optometry and eye care practice has been gaining momentum for last half a decade, due to the COVID-19 pandemic and technological advancements in telemedicine. These smart devices will help facilitate remote monitoring of important visual functions, ocular signs and symptoms, thus providing better eye care services and facilities and promoting outreach services. Smart devices in optometry exist in the form of gadgets that can be worn in the wrist, and spectacle-mounted or head-mounted devices. On the other hand, with the ubiquitous nature of smartphones, a large number of smartphone applications have been developed and tested for advanced optometry and primary eye care practice, which may potentially reduce the burden of inadequate resources and the unmet need for eye care. This article aims to give an overview of the current trends and future perspectives on the application of such smart devices in optometric practice.Keywords: smartphone apps, artificial intelligence, virtual reality, augmented reality, myopia devices
