Visual Impairment Screening using Images from Ophthalmology and Novel pathways for Structural Analysis and Fast Evaluation

Introduction

Clinical eye images could be explored in an entirely new way to provide early detection of serious eye diseases that currently affect thousands worldwide yet could be preventable. The objective of VISIONSAFE is to extract macro- and microstructure biomarkers from real-world clinical images depicting the retina, lens, and cornea, thereby facilitating early disease detection and personalized management.

Macrostructural vs. Microstructural Biomarkers

While macrostructural biomarkers related to ocular shape are well-established, microstructural biomarkers related to tissue remain largely unexplored. The project's foundation rests on the preliminary work of the PI, which demonstrated the feasibility of deriving disease-related microstructure biomarkers from low-resolution clinical eye images.

Methodology

The approach combines data science, advanced image processing, and rigorous experimental validation to better understand the interplay between macro- and microstructural biomarkers in prevalent sight-threatening eye diseases, including:

1. Age-related macular degeneration (AMD)
2. Glaucoma
3. Cataracts
4. Corneal ectasia

This methodology utilizes efficient, cost-effective, and accessible tools.

Ground-breaking Aspects

VISIONSAFE covers several ground-breaking aspects:

• Clinical eye data is already available but underused (can we use data science for vision preservation?).
• The acquisition and combination of macro- and microstructural biomarkers from clinical images have not yet been considered (is this combination a key for the early diagnosis of eye diseases? Are we missing out on essential information from already available data?).

Potential Gains

The project's potential gains are significant. It enhances knowledge on eye disease biomarkers accessible through routine eye exams, shifts the paradigm toward macro- and microstructural biomarker synergy, and represents an important step towards a future where eye diseases are identified and managed earlier. This offers hope and improved quality of life to countless individuals.