A new AI tool has sparked hope in the fight against premature blindness. Scientists from around the world have developed an advanced artificial intelligence system that utilises deep learning. This innovative technology has the capability to pinpoint infants who are susceptible to retinopathy, a condition that, if neglected, could lead to vision loss.

Read on to discover more about Retinopathy of Prematurity, and how the new ground-breaking AI tool may help to prevent premature blindness.

What is Retinopathy of Prematurity (ROP)?

ROP is a condition that can affect infants born prematurely. It is known to contribute towards the vision loss of approximately 50,000 children worldwide.

In a preterm infant the blood vessels in the retina have not yet fully developed. Babies are screened by ophthalmologists in the neonatal unit to check how these blood vessels are growing. For some infants, there is an abnormal growth of vessels and this can lead to retinal detachment and blindness if it is not treated in-time. Over time, there has been an evolution of our understanding of this condition and guidelines have been developed that identify which babies need screening, and at what point a baby needs treatment.

You can’t see the signs of retinopathy just by looking at a baby’s eyes. The only way to spot it is to screen infants individually using a special headlight, lens and a doctor trained in screening for this condition. However, thanks to the new AI tool, detecting the condition could soon become much easier.

New AI tool to detect retinopathy

A research team has designed an advanced deep learning AI model to detect retinopathy. A total of 7,414 eye images from 1,370 newborns treated at Homerton Hospital, London, were used to train the AI. The hospital caters to a diverse ethnic and socioeconomic population, which was beneficial to the study as the condition varies across different ethnic groups.

Once the AI tool had been trained, it was tested using an additional 200 images. Its performance was compared to that of experienced ophthalmologists. The tool was also tested on datasets from the US, Brazil, and Egypt. Results showed that the AI was as proficient as senior paediatric ophthalmologists in detecting potentially blinding retinopathy.

Even though the tool was primarily optimised for a UK demographic, its effectiveness on other continents is encouraging. Developed as a code-free deep learning platform, the tool can be fine-tuned for new settings even by those who don’t have any prior coding knowledge.

Treating retinopathy

Options for treating ROP include laser surgery or injections into the eye. These innovative techniques work by targeting and eliminating the abnormal blood vessels, thereby preventing additional deterioration of vision.

Laser surgery is a sophisticated procedure. It requires the precision and expertise of a well-trained ophthalmologist and potentially saves a patient from vision loss.

Mr. Imran Jawaid is a highly qualified and experienced ophthalmologist with a proven track record in treating retinopathy using laser surgery. His vast experience, combined with his compassionate approach to patient care, ensures that you will receive the best possible treatment. Schedule an appointment with Mr Jawaid today.

A recent study published in JAMA by researchers in Hong Kong, suggests that the use of dilating eye drops in children may delay, or even prevent the onset of myopia. Myopia, or near-sightedness, can lead to a range of vision problems, including cataracts, glaucoma, and retinal detachment, and is irreversible once it develops.

The incidence of myopia has increased significantly in recent decades, nearly doubling in the US population from 25% to nearly 42% since the 1970s. Children have been particularly affected. Experts believe that spending more time indoors and increased screen time may be contributing to the trend.

Early intervention through the use of dilating eye drops may be an effective strategy for preventing the progression of myopia and reducing the risk of associated vision problems.

Understanding the latest study

A new study enrolled 474 children who did not have myopia at the start, with 353 completing the study after receiving nightly eye drops in both eyes for 2 years.

The study measured vision changes using the dioptre unit of measure and found that eye drops containing 0.05% atropine are more effective than drops with lower concentrations. These eye drops can slow the progression of myopia in children aged 4-12 who already have the condition. Atropine works by dilating the pupil and temporarily paralysing the eye’s ability to change focus.

Children in this new study received either 0.05% atropine, 0.01% atropine, or placebo drops once nightly in both eyes for 2 years. After 2 years, the researchers found that only 33/116 (28.4%) of the 0.05% atropine group developed myopia.

The percentage of children with myopia in the placebo group was larger than in the 0.05% atropine group by the end of the study. Discomfort when exposed to bright light was the main adverse event reported in all treatment groups. Another side effect that can be experienced at higher concentrations of atropine (can be up to 1%) is difficulties with near vision.

Other ways to prevent and delay myopia

Myopia is a growing problem worldwide and is not just a matter of inconvenience or the need for corrective lenses. It can also increase the risk of developing vision-threatening eye conditions later in life.

There are several steps parents can take to help prevent or manage myopia in their children. One approach is to decrease the duration of near vision tasks and ensure that their children take frequent breaks. Additionally, doctors recommend that children spend 60-80 minutes each day outdoors to give the eye muscles a chance to relax.

Importantly, by scheduling regular eye exams with your child’s eye doctor, they will be able to detect myopia in the early stages and can offer different treatments. This can involve specialised multifocal eyeglasses or contact lenses, or the use of eye drops, to control the progression of the condition.

By taking proactive steps to manage myopia, parents can help their children maintain good eye health and reduce the risk of complications later in life. This latest research is an exciting development and could potentially help reduce the rates of myopia in children.

If you are concerned your child may have myopia, book an appointment with Mr Imran Jawaid. He will check your child’s eye health, and if myopia is diagnosed, he can discuss with you a low-dose atropine treatment plan.

Lazy eye, medically referred to as Amblyopia, is a condition that affects approximately 1 in every 50 children in the UK. Usually, it develops before a child turns eight years of age when their vision is still developing. However, it can be difficult to spot.

Amblyopia can be caused by an uncorrected refractive error, Strabismus (eye misalignment) or when the vision is obscured by cataracts or another condition.

If you are concerned your child may have a lazy eye, here you’ll discover some of the key signs to watch out for.

Common signs of a lazy eye

Understanding the symptoms of a lazy eye can help to catch the condition early. Here’s some of the most common signs of a lazy eye to pay attention to…

Asymptomatic – Often, if there is no visible abnormality to the eye there will be no symptoms. Therefore, it is very important that every child has their free NHS eye test with an optometrist. Generally, this should be fine at the age of 4-5 years or reception year in school.

Difficulty reading – If your child refuses to read, or has a hard time reading, it could be a sign of a lazy eye. They may lose their place easily, add words into the sentence, or have to consistently re-read words.

A lazy eye requires more focus when reading. This can cause the eyes to become fatigued and can prove stressful for your child. Of course, difficulty with reading can also be a sign of other conditions such as dyslexia. Therefore, it is difficult to diagnose the condition from this symptom alone.

Frequently rubbing, squinting, or closing one eye – When your child is outside on a bright sunny day, do they squint, rub or regularly close one eye? This could indicate that one of their eyes is weaker than the other one.

Accident prone – Children with a lazy eye can have difficulties with depth perception. This can cause them to fall over frequently and become accident prone. It can also make it difficult to play sports and keep up with peers.

Turning their head to one side – Amblyopia tends to only impact one eye. When watching TV or paying attention to something, your child may turn their head to one side in order to see better through their more dominant eye.

If you suspect your child may have a lazy eye based upon these symptoms, it’s time to seek a medical diagnosis. If it is confirmed, there are some great effective treatments available that can help.

What are the treatment options for lazy eye?

There are several treatment options to help combat a lazy eye including spectacles, patching and atropine drops.

They are designed to build on eye-brain connections. This in turn helps to boost key visual skills that are required for binocular vision (using both eyes simultaneously to see clearly).

Both patches and eye drops are used to cover or blur the good eye. This causes the lazy eye to work harder, building up strength and improving vision.

In some cases, surgery may be required. This can be carried out to strengthen or weaken the eye muscles to improve binocularity. It is performed under general anaesthetic as a day case in most instances. Mr Jawaid can offer strabismus surgery using adjustable sutures as well as small-incision (fornix) squint surgery.

A lazy eye is easily treatable, but it can cause the loss of vision in the eye if it is left untreated. To find out which treatment option is right for your child, book a consultation with Mr Jawaid today.

Good vision and healthy eyes play an important role in infant development so baby eye health will be checked several times throughout the first hours, weeks, and months of their life to identify any issues.

In the UK, checking your baby’s eyes for any health problems is part of a routine newborn physical examination. There is then a follow-up physical examination performed between six and eight weeks by your GP.

Checking Baby Eye Health

Eye-related health issues in new-born babies are rare but can include:

1. Strabismus: Some babies develop strabismus, commonly known as a squint. This presents as either a constant or occasional misalignment of the eyes. Treatment may include glasses, patching and surgery to align the eyes. It is essential that any baby with a squint gets a specialist to look for the cause of the squint to check for the cause.
2. Cataracts: congenital cataracts are a rare condition affecting newborns. It is tested for using the ‘red reflex test’ in their first check-up. If there is a cause for concern, there will be a follow-up at hospital within the first few weeks after birth.
3. Teary or watery eyes: newborn babies do not have the capacity to produce tears at first and this usually develops after a few weeks. You may then notice their eyes seem constantly teary which is the result of a blocked tear duct. This will usually resolve itself in the first year and is not a cause for concern. But if the eye becomes red and swollen then it could be a sign of infection.
4. Conjunctivitis: in newborns this is called ophthalmia neonatorum and presents as swollen eyelids, redness of the eye and sticky discharge. You should see your GP as soon as possible to prevent any long-term damage to the eye.

Mr Imran Jawaid is a consultant ophthalmologist who specialises in paediatric ophthalmology and the treatment of strabismus. To arrange a consultation, call 0115 924 9924.