A(eye): A Review of Current Applications of Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning in Ophthalmology

Advances in Telemedicine in Ophthalmology

“…The patient and ophthalmologist are notified if there has been a significant change in testing. 3,20,21 In a randomized, controlled clinical trial comparing 763 patients who received athome device monitoring and 757 patients who received standard care using an Amsler grid and other standard screening guidelines, researchers found that patients in the device arm lost a median of 4 letters from baseline to CNV detection while those in the standard care group lost a median of 9 letters. 21 Tele-ophthalmology is not limited to retinal disease.…”

“…This is often reliant on machine learning that uses computer algorithms based on large datasets and allows the machine to subsequently alter its own coding in order to make better predictions about the future. 3 IDx-DR (IDX, LLC, Coralville, Iowa, USA) received Breakthrough Device Designation and was approved by the FDA in April 2018 as the first fully autonomous, artificial intelligence enabled screening device for diagnosing eye pathology. 3 Using artificial intelligence, the IDx-DR software analyzes retinal images taken with the Topcon-NW400 in the primary care setting and determines if "more than mild diabetic retinopathy" is present, therefore prompting referral to an ophthalmologist.…”

“…The field of ophthalmology is often at the forefront of technological advances in medicine owing largely to the unique ability to directly visualize neural tissue, connective tissue, and blood vessels inside the eye and, in many cases, to safely intervene with advanced microsurgical techniques. 3 An example of this is optical coherence tomography (OCT) which gives the ophthalmologist the ability to non-invasively visualize a cross-section of the layers of the retina, akin to a histological slice. 4 Another example is the first directly administered gene therapy approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), voretigene neparvovec-rzyl, which utilizes adenovirus vectors to enable in vivo gene alteration to help cure genetic disease.…”

“…4 Another example is the first directly administered gene therapy approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), voretigene neparvovec-rzyl, which utilizes adenovirus vectors to enable in vivo gene alteration to help cure genetic disease. 3 Likewise, tele-ophthalmology is one of the fields leading the way for telemedicine, including integration of novel devices enabled with artificial intelligence (AI) to assist in remote patient evaluation and screening. 3,5…”

“…3 Likewise, tele-ophthalmology is one of the fields leading the way for telemedicine, including integration of novel devices enabled with artificial intelligence (AI) to assist in remote patient evaluation and screening. 3,5…”