ASU researchers use AI to help people see more clearly


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Fulton Schools Professor Yalin Wang’s team develops tools to aid in the diagnosis of myopic maculopathy

The article highlights the rising issue of myopia, projected to impact 50% of the global population by 2050, with “near work” largely blamed for the increase. A severe consequence of myopia, myopic maculopathy, leads to significant vision loss and is irreversible. Researchers at Arizona State University are developing AI-driven diagnostic tools to detect the disease early, published in JAMA Ophthalmology. Early detection can greatly improve outcomes, with potential treatments to slow the disease’s progression.

A challenge to see things in a new way

In response to a challenge by the MICCAI Society in 2023, experts developed advanced computer-aided screening tools for retinal images to address myopic maculopathy. This disease, typically diagnosed by manual inspection of optical coherence tomography scans, involves lengthy specialist evaluations. Wang’s team from the Geometry Systems Laboratory at Arizona State University, winners of the MICCAI challenge, innovated by creating AI algorithms called NN-MobileNet to classify the disease and estimate its severity, crucial for tailored patient treatments. Their subsequent work developed new algorithms for accurately predicting the spherical equivalent in retinal scans, enhancing prescription accuracy for eyewear. This research, including collaborations with other MICCAI challenge winners and resulting in significant computational efficiency improvements, was published in JAMA Ophthalmology.

A better vision for global health

Wang is driven by the goal of addressing health disparities through his work, focusing on making AI-powered diagnostic technology accessible in rural and developing areas to improve global health outcomes. Ross Maciejewski, director of the School of Computing and Augmented Intelligence, praises Wang’s project as a prime example of faculty excellence, providing vital solutions for the increasing cases of myopia and myopic maculopathy. This research stands out for its principled application of AI in tackling significant medical challenges.