AI Could Transform Eye Disease Detection In Next Five Years, Bring Screening To Remote Villages, Experts Say At Indore Conference

Artificial intelligence (AI) could revolutionize eye disease detection and screening, bringing these services closer to patients' homes, even in remote villages, according to experts attending the 49th annual conference of the Madhya Pradesh State Ophthalmological Society in Indore. The experts attending the conference believe the use of AI in diagnosing eye diseases will increase significantly over the next five years, potentially reducing the need for many patients to travel to major hospitals for initial screenings.

During the conference, discussions centered around the role of AI in ophthalmology, with experts from across the country sharing their insights. Dr RS Choudhary highlighted a session that focused on how AI could simplify the screening and detection of eye diseases. Dr Mita Joshi emphasized that AI-assisted systems could enable regular eye screening closer to patients' homes, helping detect diseases at an early stage and facilitating timely referral to specialists when needed.

She pointed out that people living in remote villages often struggle with travel to major cities and hospitals for treatment, and financial constraints can also be a barrier.

Another key topic at the conference was the rising risk of myopia among children. Dr Neelam Maheshwari of Aravind Eye Institute, Chennai, explained that myopia is a multifactorial condition with lifestyle and environmental pollution among its contributing factors. She stressed the importance of outdoor activities for children and advised the 20-20-20 rule as a preventive measure. The conference also saw the election of Dr RS Choudhary as the president of the Madhya Pradesh State Ophthalmological Society.