Early detection of Papilloedema and Diabetic Retinopathy

"Papilloedema is the swelling of the optic nerve that leaves the eye to go to the brain. The brain is in a closed vault (the skull) therefore any lesion occupying space (tumour, bleeding) can press against the brain and cause death. Diabetic Retinopathy is one of the leading preventable causes of blindness in the world, providing a massive economic burden on both developed and developing countries worldwide. We will develop a smartphone based solution that will use an optical lens attached to the camera to carry out a full Ophthalmologist guided Optical examination, as well as image the back of a patient's eye to detect papilloedema and diabetic retinopathy.

Hospital specialities based in central teaching hospitals are being increasingly asked to consult for patients in peripheral District Generals - remote consultation software capable of carrying out basic technical measurements would permit specialist doctors to cover greater catchment areas in a safe manner, improving outcomes for all concerned and avoiding unnecessary missed cases of these serious eye conditions.

The automation of simple technical tasks with regards to the ophthalmological examination will also speed up consultations, and increase the number of patients that can be seen during routine screenings. For example, both diabetic retinopathy screening and the pre-school vision screening tests would benefit massively from the use of the proposed solution, and thereby significantly reducing the sight-loss burden in this country.

Automated recognition of swollen optic nerves and diabetic retinopathy via a smartphone-based solution enhanced with machine learning capabilities also has the potential to save lives in A&E departments, general practitioners and optometrists across the country - and even world-wide."