Consistency and efficiency with Aetheia:Remote
Background
Optical Express operates one of the largest networks of eye care clinics across the UK, delivering eye examinations, laser eye surgery consultations, and ongoing patient care at scale. The organisation is located across multiple major cities, however it wanted to explore offering its more remote areas a solution to maintaining the highest standards of clinical quality while making the most effective use of its optometrists’ expertise and time.
Challenge
As patient demand grows and services expand across geographically dispersed clinics, Optical Express wanted to prioritise solutions that enabled consistency of care, operational efficiency, and flexibility in how clinical teams are deployed.
Optical Express needed a solution that would combine the ability to:
- Enable optometrists to work efficiently across multiple locations
- Reduce the learning curve for clinicians adopting new workflows
- Maintain full clinical oversight and control
- Improve overall examination efficiency
- Guarantee that every patient received a complete, standardised slit lamp assessment
Above all, the organisation required a reliable workflow that preserved its own clinical protocols and high standards, regardless of where the examination was taking place.
Aetheia's solution
To address these requirements, Optical Express began trialling Eyoto’s Aetheia:Remote, the world’s only automated and fully remote digital 4K slit lamp, at its Middlesbrough clinic, with optometrists conducting examinations remotely from Glasgow.
Using Remote-Assist, the optometrist was able to virtually observe each examination in real time, maintaining full clinical oversight throughout the process, while a local on-site technician assisted the patient.
Aetheia performed complete eye examinations according to Optical Express’ own established standards and protocols, ensuring no compromise in quality or care to the patients.
Crucially, this approach removed the need for the optometrist to manually control the slit lamp directly on-site, while still allowing them to review the findings, guide the process where required, and retain responsibility for clinical decision-making post-examination. The workflow was designed to integrate seamlessly into existing practice, and enhance overall efficiency.
Outcome
The workflow proved straightforward to adopt and quick for clinicians to become confident using. By reducing the operational complexity of an optometrist delivering slit lamp examinations across multiple sites, Optical Express was able to streamline processes, improve efficiency, and ultimately lower costs.
Examination times improved and Aethia:Remote ensured that every patient received the same consistent, full protocol slit lamp assessment, regardless of location, all whilst preserving the organisation’s high clinical standards.
The trial with Aetheia demonstrated that Optical Express could deliver high-quality remote slit lamp assessments across multiple locations while making more effective use of its optometrists’ time and expertise. This model offered a scalable approach to supporting remote clinics without compromising on quality or care.
What they said:
“The trial was a success, with the equipment providing effective real time assessments and high quality images for reviewing patients’ eyes. The equipment can be used manually with minimal training, and the automatic mode proved particularly useful. The Eyoto team were excellent and provided timely, efficient support whenever it was required.”
- Optical Express
Issued on behalf of Eyoto. For more information, please contact the PR team at Campaign via eyoto@cabcampaign.co.uk
About Eyoto
Eyoto is a UK-based medtech company developing advanced ophthalmic imaging and digital diagnostic technologies that help modernise how eye care is delivered. Its flagship platform, Aetheia, is an automated 4K digital slit lamp that combines AI-enabled automation with local and fully remote control, supporting assisted clinical examinations through Eyoto’s proprietary Auto-Optometry™ capability. Designed to support consistent, high-quality assessments across multiple sites, Aetheia helps providers expand access to care, improve workflow efficiency, and enhance patient experience through more scalable and sustainable service models.
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