296 posters, 7 videos, 13 audios, 14 topics, 10 sessions, 1,019 authors, 260 institutions
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RCOphth Annual Congress 2026
18 - 21 May, 2026 | Manchester Central, Manchester
P300
Performance and Safety of a Virtual Vitreoretinal Surgical Triage Pathway: A Retrospective Audit of 154 Patients
Poster Presenter
Part of Topic
Vitrea retinal diseases and surgery
Performance and Safety of a Virtual Vitreoretinal Surgical Triage Pathway: A Retrospective Audit of 154 Patients
Authors: Alexander Fraser1, Riddhi Thaker1, Aman Chandra1, Beatrice Gallo1
Affiliation: ¹ Southend University Hospital, Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust, United Kingdom
Introduction:
Virtual triage models are established in medical retina and glaucoma.1 Vitreoretinal surgery relies on high-risk diagnostic decision-making, yet despite the potential for patient and service level benefit,2-3 virtual triage pathways in this context remain under-evaluated. We evaluated the performance of a virtual vitreoretinal clinic (VVRC) newly implemented at Southend University Hospital.
Methods:
Retrospective audit of a consultant-led VVRC (Mar–Sep 2025)
Patients attended an imaging hub (VA, autorefraction, OCT, widefield imaging) with a standardised symptom questionnaire
Cases were reviewed remotely by a vitreoretinal surgeon, with direct patient contact for counselling or surgical consent
Outcomes included triage category, face-to-face (F2F) escalation reasons, surgical listing, and time intervals
Results:
154 patients (191 eyes), mean age 70.4 years
Virtual triage outcomes (Figure 1) show 61.6% reduction in hospital footfall
Discharged (27.9%)
Virtual followup (17.5%)
Surgical listing (15.6%)
Rebooked to another clinic (11.7%)
Indications for virtual clinic surgery listing (Figure 2)
Reasons for F2F escalation (Figure 3) shows only minority unavoidable
Inappropriate for virtual as peripheral exam necessary (29.1%)
High complexity discussion and decision (12.7%)
Flow chart of pathway from virtual referral to surgery (Figure 4)
Notably detected previously undiagnosed retinal detachments and tears
Conclusion:
Majority avoided F2F review, reducing clinic burden
Surgeries listed directly from virtual review
Imaging safely identified unexpected sight-threatening pathology (RD, HST)
Most F2F escalations were avoidable system issues
VVRC is a safe, scalable NHS triage model
“61.6% of referrals avoided need for in-person review showing virtual triage can safely reduce NHS burden”
References:
1. Otti V, Kang S, Keane PA. Virtual eye clinics in the United Kingdom - pros and cons. Expert Rev Ophthalmol. 2025;20(5):223-226. doi:10.1080/17469899.2025.2550691
2. Yang E, Rees A, Ahadzi S, et al. Virtual vitreoretinal clinics: a service delivery pathway of the future. Int J Retina Vitreous. 2025;11(1). doi:10.1186/S40942-025-00684-3
3. Anguita R, Ahmed S, Makuloluwa A, Hind J, Roth J, Wickham L. Prospective validation of a virtual post-operative clinic in vitreoretinal surgery. Eye (Lond). 2024;38(17):3258-3262. doi:10.1038/S41433-024-03272-1
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