ER Eye Care Survey: What Frontline Physicians Say
Emergency departments are often the first—and many times the only—point of care for patients with acute eye conditions.
Yet eye emergencies remain some of the most difficult cases to assess and triage in the ER.
To better understand where the challenges lie, Remidio surveyed emergency department physicians across a range of hospital settings to assess their access to eye care tools, specialist support, and diagnostic resources.
The findings highlight systemic challenges and a clear opportunity to improve outcomes through better point-of-care eye imaging.
Eye emergencies are widely seen as high-risk and hard to manage
Nearly all ER physicians surveyed described eye emergency care as highly challenging. The most commonly cited barriers include:
These challenges are amplified in community hospitals, where access to on-call ophthalmology support is even more limited.
Limited access to ophthalmologists drives referrals and delays
Only 37% of ER physicians report consistent access to ophthalmology support—rising to 47% in community hospitals. As a result:
- 44% of emergency departments routinely refer patients elsewhere for specialized eye care
- Many eye conditions that could be triaged or managed on site instead result in transfers, delays, and increased system burden
Existing ophthalmic tools fall short in the ER
While direct ophthalmoscopy remains common, it is rarely used in practice during emergency care:
- 85% of physicians report inadequate ophthalmic equipment
- Only 19% say current ophthalmic devices are very effective in the ER
- Most ER physicians do not routinely perform ophthalmoscopic exams—even when clinically indicated—raising the risk of missed diagnoses such as retinal artery occlusion, papilledema, or stroke-related findings
Strong demand for connected, point-of-care eye imaging
Despite these limitations, physicians are clear about what would help:
- 78% of ER physicians see value in having connected ophthalmic devices
- 93% of clinicians in community hospitals rate connected eye imaging as highly valuable
When eye imaging tools are easy to use, non-mydriatic, and designed for the ER workflow, they enable faster triage, better documentation, and earlier specialist input—without waiting for transfers or in-person consults.
Clinical Impact: Speed, Safety, and Throughput
Published evidence and real-world implementations referenced in the survey highlight meaningful clinical and operational benefits when fundus imaging is available in the ER:
- Average length of stay reduced by ~50%
- Acute retinal artery occlusion diagnosed within the critical 4.5-hour intervention window
- Non-mydriatic fundus images can be captured by trained nursing staff, not just specialists
These improvements directly support patient safety, faster decision-making, and more efficient use of ER resources.
The Opportunity for Emergency Departments
The survey findings underscore a growing reality in emergency medicine:
While eye emergencies are time-sensitive, high-risk, and increasingly common, most ERs still rely on tools and workflows that were never designed for modern emergency care.
There are clear opportunities for emergency departments to deliver better results:
Improve patient outcomes through earlier diagnosis
Reduce unnecessary transfers and delays
Support ER clinicians with tools that fit their workflow
Maintain certification and quality standards without adding burden
Download the Full Survey Snapshot
For a concise visual summary of the data and references behind these findings