A team of researchers from Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Jodhpur has developed an Artificial Intelligence (AI) algorithm which can detect cataract through eye images captured by low-cost near-infrared (NIR) cameras – a development that may provide cost-effective and quick cataract detection facility to patients, including those with limited access to health facilities.
Known as MTCD, the proposed multitask deep learning algorithm is cost-effective and results in high levels of accuracy, the institute said in a statement. The method involves iris segmentation and multitasking network classification. The proposed segmentation algorithm efficiently and effectively detects non-ideal eye boundaries, IIT Jodhpur added in its statement.
“Low-cost NIR cameras are used in place of costly ophthalmoscopes. The proposed method can be used in rural settings where the availability of doctors is limited,” the statement further read.
The link to the published research can be found here:
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cviu.2021.103303
In traditional methods, cataracts are mainly detected through fundus images, where image acquisition is costlier and needs experts to handle the fundus cameras. The AI-based solution with low-cost imaging devices can make it more accessible and inexpensive.
The research was conceptualised by Mayank Vatsa and Richa Singh, who are professors at the Department of Computer Science and Engineering and are working at the Image Analysis and Biometrics (IAB) Lab of IIT Jodhpur. They were supported by various undergraduate and PhD students – Mahapara Khurshid, Yasmeena Akhter, Rohit Keshari, Pavani Tripathi, and Aditya Lakra.
Speaking about the research, Richa Singh said, “Currently, a large number of patients with cataracts have to visit secondary and tertiary care centres. The availability of such a solution can assist doctors at the primary health care centres in detecting cataract.”
“We are extending this research to include both cataract and diabetic retinopathy in the solution and have collaborated with multiple hospitals in the country for domain expertise, data collection, and validation of the solution,” added her partner, Mayank Vatsa.
IHub-Drishti, the technology and innovation hub at IIT Jodhpur, has recently funded the next stage of this research. The researchers plan to undertake an extensive data collection exercise for building an ophthalmology databank with different kinds of devices.
IIT Jodhpur has collaborated with the Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER) Chandigarh to further expand this research.