Study Shows that Using AI in Eye Screenings Could Help Improve Vision Outcomes

A new study published in Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science suggests that artificial intelligence (AI) could be used to provide widespread, cost-effective eye screenings via telemedicine to assist ophthalmologists in improving vision outcomes for people with diabetes. The study looks at diabetic macular edema (DME), which is a leading cause of vision loss among working-age adults. “DME currently impacts approximately 10 percent of the 425 million people around the world living with diabetes, and this is expected to increase,” said Jeff Willis, M.D., Ph.D., associate medical director at Genentech and co-author of the study, in an interview with MD+DI. “What happens in DME is that blood vessels in the retina become leaky from the underlying diabetes and the macula swells,” said Willis. “This swelling in the macula affects central vision and negatively affects people’s quality of life and productivity.” Often people with diabetes are not screened for DME and may not get timely treatment. Willis said that there are effective treatments, but time is of the essence in achieving optimal vision outcomes. “When DME is left untreated, nerve cells in the retina can be severely damaged, leading to irreversible vision loss,” said Willis. He explained that is why screening programs for diabetic eye diseas...
Source: MDDI - Category: Medical Devices Authors: Tags: Digital Health Source Type: news