AI being used to help predict blindness

Southampton researchers are using eye scans to predict which patients with age-related macular degeneration (AMD) are most at risk of blindness.

The PINNACLE study is using machine learning, a branch of Artificial Intelligence (AI), to analyse high resolution images of the inside of the eye. It has recently been extended.

It is led by Prof Andrew Lotery, Professor of Ophthalmology at the University of Southampton, and run in collaboration with University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust (UHS).

Understanding AMD better

AMD is a common condition that reduces a person’s central vision. This can make everyday activities like reading and recognising faces difficult. It usually first affects people in their 50s and 60s, and often gradually gets worse or ‘progresses’. The exact cause is unknown.

It is hoped that this study’s method will help researchers identify new structural changes that can predict AMD progression. It has already shown promise in conditions such as Alzheimer’s disease.

This will help them understand why the speed and severity of the progression to late-stage disease varies so much from one person to another.

Detailed eye scans

As well as UHS, the study is also being run at Moorfields Eye Hospital, Medical University of Vienna and University Hospital Basel. It is funded by the Wellcome Trust, and supported by the University of Southampton’s Gift of Sight Appeal.

The research is analysing over 60,000 retinal images held by the UK Biobank. This includes images from both unaffected individuals (the control group), and those diagnosed with AMD.

Results from this analysis are now being validated in 400 patients with intermediate AMD. They attend appointments every four months over a three-year period to have eye scans.

These scans focus on different parts of the eye relevant to AMD, including the neurosensory retina, retinal pigment epithelium and choriocapillaris. The frequency of this imaging allows any changes in these tissues to be identified and monitored at the earliest possible stage.

Cathy’s experience

Cathy Hill, a participant on the Isle of Wight, recently spoke about taking part.

“It’s really quite simple,” she says. “I go to St Mary’s Hospital on the Island, three times a year and they do various scans.

“When I turn up, I go to reception and I just say ‘I’m part of the research programme’ and I’m always treated a little bit like royalty. They’re always saying thank you to me the whole time all the way through my visit."

Natalie Clarke, Clinical Trial Project Manager for PINNACLE, said: “It is hoped that the outcome of this study will help improve the way AMD is diagnosed and managed. In the short term, the ability to identify the most ‘at-risk’ patients in the early stages of their diagnosis will facilitate earlier intervention and promote better outcomes.

“The longer-term benefits of this knowledge will aid the development of future clinical trials, increase targeted treatment options and overall, provide a more personalised approach to the clinical management of AMD.”