Neuro-ophthalmology Consultations in an Academic Medical Center with an Emergency Department Equipped with Nonmydriatic Fundus Imaging.
Emergency department nonmydriatic fundus imaging associated with 36% fewer in-person neuro-ophthalmology consultations.
Neuro-ophthalmology Consultations in an Academic Medical Center with an Emergency Department Equipped with Nonmydriatic Fundus Imaging.
To compare our institution's emergency department (emergency department) and inpatient neuro-ophthalmology consultation patterns from 2024 (after implementation of nonmydriatic ocular imaging in our general emergency department) with the 494 neuro-ophthalmology consultations seen in 2022 (before implementation of the camera).
Consecutive patients undergoing emergency department or inpatient neuro-ophthalmology consultations at a single, large, urban academic medical center.
Of 636 consecutive in-person neuro-ophthalmology consultations requested in 2024, 432 consultations (68%) were in the emergency department, and 204 consultations (32%) were in inpatient settings.
The most common reasons for neuro-ophthalmology consultations in the emergency department were concern for papilledema, other optic disc swelling, and optic neuritis.
This 2-point comparison suggests an increase in total neuro-ophthalmology consultations at our academic medical center, with 36% of in-person consultations avoided since implementation of nonmydriatic ocular fundus imaging in our emergency department.
Implementation of nonmydriatic fundus cameras with teleophthalmology capabilities in the emergency department setting will be critical to address the increasing need for neuro-ophthalmic care by allowing remote consultations.