An artificial intelligence (AI) model helped identify myopia, strabismus, and ptosis in children using smartphone images. “Identifying pediatric eye diseases at an early stage is a worldwide issue,” investigators noted in JAMA Network Open.
Investigators found sensitivity for detecting myopia was approximately 85% for children 6 to 18 years old, likely due to myopia progression with age. Sensitivity for detecting strabismus was highest at 78% in the 13- to 18-year-old age group, and lowest at 67% for the 0 to 5-year-old age group. The model showed stable performance in detecting ptosis across all age groups.
The cross-sectional study was conducted in a Shanghai hospital from October 1, 2022, to September 30, 2023, and included 476 children diagnosed with myopia, strabismus, or ptosis. Participants’ faces were photographed under controlled lighting conditions using a smartphone. A total of 1,419 images were collected, with 946 monocular images for myopia and ptosis detection and 473 binocular images for strabismus detection.
The AI model performance was evaluated for sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, and area under the curve (AUC), among other data points.
- Myopia: the model showed 84% sensitivity, 76% specificity, 80% accuracy, and 84% AUC.
- Strabismus: the model showed 73% sensitivity, 85% specificity, 80% accuracy, and 83% AUC.
- Ptosis: the model showed 85% sensitivity, 95% specificity, 92% accuracy, and 94% AUC.
If left untreated, each of these conditions can lead to serious ocular issues including retinal detachment, myopic macular degeneration, choroidal neovascularization, glaucoma, cataracts, and development of the visual system, the study noted, which is why early detection remains essential. The investigators suggested the AI model used in the study may be able to assist families with early screening at home. “Moreover,” they concluded, “using such information can help achieve a more equitable allocation of limited medical resources.”
A full list of author disclosures can be found in the published research.
