Table 2: Estimated costs for in-person examination and pharmacy-based TO
ItemUnit descriptionCost per unit, $Total cost, $
Capital costs* per year
Digital camera1 retinal camera17 458.504 032.45
Table lift1 table lift1 045.25241.43
Software1 software package1 610.25371.93
Carrying case1 carrying case1 299.50300.15
MaintenanceAnnual maintenance460.00460.00
Camera transportation costs per year
Van rental1 cargo van91.071 092.84
Fuel1 L1.2776.26
Overhead costs† per year
Pharmacy overhead costsAnnual expenditures per square foot155.00775.00
Labour costs per patient
TO coordinatorHourly wage‡24.184.03§
Ophthalmic photographerHourly wage‡24.186.05§
Grader (ophthalmologist)Consultation per patient31.6631.66
Eye care specialistConsultation per patient51.1051.10
Consumables per patient
Referral to retina specialistExamination per patient111.31111.31
Dilation drops
   1% tropicamideCost per unit (15 mL)16.150.54
   2.5% phenylephrine Cost per unit (5 mL)4.820.12
Chin coversCost per pack (500)56.500.113

Note: TO = teleophthalmology.

*Annualized based on a 5-year life span and a 5% depreciation rate.

†Based on average annual pharmacy overhead expenditures for 5 square feet, adjusted to inflation.

‡Based on a part-time annual salary of $21 762.

§Part-time salary was extrapolated according to the number of patients per hour. Workload was estimated based on literature searches.