Exploring Telemedicine for Eye Appointments with Dr. Robert Chu, OD

Given the rapid and dramatic changes in the world today, providers and patients are having to be creative to provide the level of care our patients desperately need. We are all in this together.

Optometrists and ophthalmologists are 'essential’. Therefore, we have remained open to provide medical eye services, replacement glasses, and contact lenses. We have rescheduled elective surgeries such as cataract surgery and LASIK to maximize safety and maintain focus on the most urgent eye health needs.

Yes, Telehealth appointments are safe and private, when HIPAA compliant platforms are used. With the current state of the world, legislators have eased the regulations on telehealth to allow for more patients to receive the care they need. You should always ask to confirm HIPAA compliance prior to being seen, though.

We use GetSetCare by Eye Care Pro. It is mobile-optimized and HIPAA complaint. It works great for our needs

That depends. Medical insurances have special codes and different levels of coverage for telehealth appointments. Vision plans generally do not cover telehealth appointments. However, in those cases patients can pay for the office visit out of pocket, then still use their material benefits under those vision plans.

Some prescription drug refills can be obtained through a telemedicine eye doctor appointment. However, new prescriptions for vision correction such as glasses and contacts should be expertly verified at your eye doctor’s office. Only they have the advanced equipment, staff, and training necessary to ensure you are getting the most accurate vision correction prescription.

We regularly treat a diabetic patient who is immunocompromised; they prefer not to leave their home for obvious reasons. We see them to treat eye infections and eye lid infections.

We also recently treated a 95 year-old woman in a nursing home who could not get a ride to the office. She had an eye infection that healed but had unfortunately returned. We were able to perform a telemedicine visit to confirm the new infection and set her up with the needed medication prescription.

Additionally, we treated an immunocompromised patient that was suffering through “flashes” and “floaters” for two weeks, hoping they would go away. Via a telemedicine appointment, he was able to see a doctor who educated him on the urgent nature of his symptoms. The patient came in the next day and was found to have a retinal detachment that required emergency surgery to save his sight.

Our patients are very thankful for the increased level of safety and convenience that telemedicine offers! It has been a win-win for all of us!

You can learn more about Dr. Chu and EyeWorks Group at https://www.eyeworksgroup.com/. Follow them on Facebook and Instagram.