This episode of AI Innovators features a deep dive into the growing global myopia epidemic with Jonathan Li, MD, a specialist and former professor at UCSF. The discussion with AI in Eye Care’s Professional Co-Editor Rehan Ahmed, MD, highlights the transition of myopia from a simple refractive error to a medical disease capable of causing permanent vision loss.
Key Discussion Points:
- The Myopia Epidemic: Globally, myopia prevalence is expected to reach 50% of the population by 2050, with one billion people classified as high myopes at severe risk for retinal detachment and macular degeneration.
- AI and Diagnostics: Researchers in Singapore have developed deep learning algorithms that use fundus photos and clinical data to predict a child’s future axial length and prescription with 98% accuracy.
- Modern Treatment Options:
- Pharmacological: Low-dose atropine eye drops.
- Optical: Specialized defocus contact lenses (e.g., MiSight 1 day contact lenses) and newly approved spectacle lenses like Essilor Stellest lenses.
- Behavioral: Increasing outdoor time to two hours daily and reducing “near work” on digital screens.
- Innovative Monitoring: The guests discuss Blink Frames, a smart frame that objectively monitors “visual diets,” including outdoor light exposure (lux) and screen time, to improve treatment compliance and research.
- The Future: Dr. Li envisions “AI-enabled virtual clinics” where technology assists in screening, predicting risk and recommending individualized treatments, while maintaining the essential human touch of a clinician.
Watch the full discussion here:
Catch up on the whole AI Innovators series here
Author
