Bringing Teleguided Retinal Laser Treatment Where It Is Needed Most
Millions of people across Africa are at risk of losing their sight because they cannot access timely retinal care. Many retinal diseases can be effectively treated if diagnosed early, yet geographical distance, limited resources and the shortage of retinal specialists continue to prevent patients from receiving sight-saving therapy.
The Mobile Teletherapeutic Eye Care Station – Ghana was created to help bridge this gap by bringing advanced retinal care directly to underserved communities through teleguided retinal laser treatment.
Table of Contents
Table of Contents
Built on Proven Clinical Experience
The Mobile Teletherapeutic Eye Care Station is the natural evolution of the SETE/THIRST programme of the Macula & Genoma Foundation, whose clinical model has already been successfully tested through two pioneering international collaborations.
The first connected the Macula & Genoma Foundation in Rome with the Global Retina Institute in Scottsdale, Arizona, demonstrating for the first time the feasibility of transcontinental teleguided retinal laser treatment between Europe and the United States.
The second expanded this experience through the collaboration between Rome and Kyiv, introducing a structured model of therapeutic telemedicine in which international expertise can safely support local treatment while preserving clinical responsibility at the patient’s side.
Both experiences have been published in leading peer-reviewed international journals, providing the scientific and clinical foundation for the Mobile Eye Station programme.
Teleguided Retinal Laser Treatment
Retinal laser therapy is one of the most effective treatments for preventing irreversible blindness caused by diabetic retinopathy, retinal vein occlusions, peripheral retinal tears and many other retinal diseases.
With the Mobile Teletherapeutic Eye Care Station, treatment is performed by the local ophthalmologist while an experienced retinal specialist, connected in real time from an international referral centre, participates in treatment planning and guides the procedure throughout its execution.
The patient remains in the local healthcare facility while benefiting from internationally shared expertise.
Expertise becomes mobile.
Care remains local.
Why Ghana?
Diabetic retinopathy and other retinal vascular diseases are increasing throughout Ghana.
Although effective treatments are available, many patients reach specialist care too late because retinal services are concentrated in a limited number of centres.
By bringing teleguided retinal laser treatment closer to patients, the Mobile Teletherapeutic Eye Care Station aims to prevent avoidable blindness and improve access to high-quality retinal care across Ghana.
The project benefits from collaboration between international retinal specialists and local colleagues affiliated with Accra’s major hospitals.
A Mobile Teletherapeutic Eye Care Station
Each Mobile Teletherapeutic Eye Care Station is designed as a self-contained ophthalmic unit equipped with:
- advanced retinal imaging
- teleguided retinal laser technology
- secure telemedicine infrastructure
- real-time connection with international retinal experts
Every procedure follows predefined clinical protocols, secure communication systems and a governance model that guarantees patient safety, traceability and local clinical responsibility.
Building Local Capacity
The Mobile Teletherapeutic Eye Care Station is more than a mobile clinic.
Every teleguided retinal laser procedure becomes an opportunity for continuous education, professional exchange and capacity building.
Local ophthalmologists work side by side with international retinal specialists, strengthening clinical expertise while creating sustainable healthcare networks that continue to benefit patients long after each treatment has been completed.
Help Us Prevent Avoidable Blindness
Restoring access to retinal care means preserving independence, education, employment and quality of life.
By supporting the Mobile Teletherapeutic Eye Care Station programme, you help transform an innovation already validated through international clinical research into a practical solution capable of reaching thousands of patients who currently have little or no access to specialised retinal treatment.
Together, we can make sight-saving retinal care available wherever it is needed.
Scientific Foundations
The Mobile Teletherapeutic Eye Care Station programme builds upon the clinical experience developed by the Macula & Genoma Foundation through the SETE/THIRST programme and validated by international peer-reviewed publications, including the first transcontinental experience of teleguided retinal laser treatment between Europe and the United States and the subsequent governance framework for therapeutic telemedicine developed through the Rome–Kyiv collaboration.