Tele-Optometry and Mobile Diagnostic Clinics: A Model for Addressing Barriers and Expanding Access to Eye Care in Rural and Underserved Population in the United States

Access to comprehensive eye care remains a persistent challenge in rural and underserved population across the United States due to geographic isolation, provider shortages, and socioeconomic barriers. In this narrative review, we describe how tele-optometry and mobile diagnostic clinics are becoming mainstream models to address these inequalities and to increase access to vision care. Tele-optometry uses synchronous and asynchronous digital platforms for remote eye exams, triage and specialist consultations while mobile clinics provide diagnostic services for retinal imaging, refraction and intraocular pressure testing directly to the communities, schools and senior centres. When tele-optometry and mobile diagnostic clinics are combined, they offer a hybrid model of care that combines inperson diagnostic capacity with remote reach and efficiency. This helps increase screening rates, shorten diagnostic times and earlier detect sight-threatening diseases such as diabetic retinopathy and glaucoma. This paper reviews the ways this model can be deployed such as community-based partnerships, school-based outreach and partnerships with public health initiatives. These models are really promising but have some issues they face, like technological and financial limitations, data security and privacy issues and other challenges that must be addressed to have good success. This review identifies future directions including artificial intelligence, integration with existing healthcare systems and longitudinal and cost-effectiveness studies. In all, tele-optometry and mobile diagnostic clinics represent an important shift toward a more accessible and patient-centered eye care delivery. Their strategic integration in national health systems could help reduce preventable vision loss and achieve long-term public health goals based on health equity and accessibility.