Facing a medical desert, this Ayr optician is installing two ophthalmology teleconsultation booths.

If you look closely, the situation remains virtually unchanged and the Ere department remains a medical desert. Specialties such as ophthalmology are not immune to this endemic scourge. This is evidenced by the figures: in 2022, the number of ophthalmologists in the country was 8.6 per 100,000 inhabitants. This ratio drops significantly in Normandy and Europe, reaching a maximum of 5.85…

For great troubles, great medicines. Thus, in Neuburg and also in Gaillon, Renaud Laborde has just installed a Doctovue remote ophthalmic teleconsultation booth in each of its stores. He is the first optician in France to use this machine. “The cost of the investment in total is 200,000 euros,” says the professional. The Eure department already operates two identical community-driven Doctovue systems. The first cabin was installed at the end of 2022 at the Evreux Medical Center. The other is located near Berne, in La Trinite de Reville.

The protocol was signed with the Regional Health Agency

The Doctovue cabin is the result of several years of research. The creator of this device is an ophthalmologist from Rouen, Dr. Etienne Gardea. “We have been working on this medical solution since 2018,” recalls Edouard Bode, director of Eyeneed, a company founded with Dr. Gardea. We took the time and, after several discussions with the Regional Health Agency of Normandy (ARS), developed a care protocol and prices that were confirmed.”

If the validity and effectiveness of this type of examination (refraction, fundus examination, etc.) remotely through the cabin no longer raises many questions, then the question remains about the evaluation and payment of the procedure by the patient. This is in a recent context where several eye screening centers were suspended by Social Security due to alleged overbilling.

“The cabin does not lead directly to any slopes,” explains Edouard Bod. This operation is performed by doctors and only once per patient. For example, if a practitioner is located in sector 1, the cost of a consultation cannot exceed 30 euros, in sector 2, i.e. outside the framework, it will not exceed 60 euros… knowing that doctors can legally quote up to three different acts. . through consultations. The Doctovue solution offers you the opportunity to reduce the amount of debt owed to your patient as much as possible. And this is in addition to reducing the time it takes to make an appointment.”

Full examination, which lasts from 15 to 20 minutes.

In Ayr, with four cabins in operation, appointment times are less than a week. “Each machine is equipped with two measuring instruments,” explains Renaud Laborde, an optician. The exam lasts from a quarter of an hour to 20 minutes. The orthoptologist does everything remotely, but is visually present on a large screen located in the cabin. If a more or less serious pathology is detected, the patient sees a doctor within three days.”