Six months after being named as winners of the Spark 5G Starter Fund, Objective Acuity and oDocs Eye Care were invited to Spark’s Auckland headquarters to offer media a first glimpse of the positive outcomes 5G can bring to eye health in New Zealand.
Using 5G, oDocs has developed a secure and encrypted live tele-ophthalmology platform that connects healthcare professionals to patients in remote regions. “We simply wouldn’t be able to get the speed or the image quality we need without 5G,” said oDocs’ co-founder Dr Ben O’Keeffe. “The win has enabled oDocs to continue to invest in our ophthalmology platform, employ full-time chief technology officer Glenn Linde, hire an additional developer and obtain advice on health data privacy requirements.”
Currently being trialled, oDocs’ tele-ophthalmology platform is expected to be launched in early 2022. “GPs and optometrists are starting to see the benefits of the system; it streamlines everything, reduces wait times and thereby improves health outcomes,” said Dr O’Keeffe.
Using artificial intelligence (AI), oDocs hopes to empower all clinicians, including non-experts, to perform live-stream consultations for triaging and referrals to ophthalmologists, said Dr O’Keeffe. “This will further reduce waiting lists for screening and follow-up and improve the management of the eyecare workforce.”
