In what’s believed to be a world first, a system pioneered by NHS Forth Valley in conjunction with the University of Strathclyde has led to an eye examination being streamed live between Edinburgh and London using 5G broadband.
The link meant that Peter Thomas, Consultant Ophthalmologist at Moorfields Eye Hospital in London, was able to examine the eye of NHS Forth Valley’s Dr Iain Livingstone, who was attending a conference in Edinburgh. They used a 5G connected smartphone attached to a portable slit lamp which demonstrated that an eye image of high enough quality to be used in clinic can be streamed in real time, opening up great potential for telemedicine in the future.
Dr Livingstone said: “I was excited to see the first ultra-high resolution tele-ophthalmology call via the 5G network. Keeping pace with these technological advancements means we can send and receive remarkably high definition video referrals which are particularly useful for relaying fine detail during a remote eye examination.
NHS Forth Valley has pioneered the use of virtual eye examinations which enables ophthalmologists to remotely examine patients with eye problems or injuries who have attended the Emergency Department, Minor Injuries Unit or local opticians. A number of other NHS Boards are now planning to introduce similar systems.
