AI and myopia detection and control
Authors: Emamian Mohammad Hassan 
Published: January 2025

Myopia is a major and growing health problem, particularly prevalent in Southeast Asian children. Therefore, it is crucial to design and implement screening strategies and provide timely and appropriate treatment. Early and accurate diagnosis is especially important for children, and the emergence of new AI tools holds promise for the diagnosis and treatment of myopia.

Recent advances in AI applications for myopia can be summarized as follows:

1. Myopia risk prediction

It is now possible to categorize children into high‐risk groups based on their risk profiles. This categorization helps identify progression patterns, which is crucial for developing suitable treatment plans. Predicting future visual outcomes enables clinicians to identify and monitor patients at risk of vision loss in advance. Researchers have developed models to predict visual acuity in patients with high myopia and evaluate children at risk of developing high myopia. An international consortium has also developed a myopia risk calculator to improve the diagnosis and management of myopia. AI models have been utilized to predict visual acuity in patients with myopic choroidal neovascularization.

2. Screening, Early Detection, and Risk Stratification

AI can analyze retinal images and other ocular data to detect myopic changes. Early identification of individuals at high risk allows for targeted interventions and preventive measures. Researchers have developed an AI tool to evaluate children at risk of developing high myopia. AI‐based models have been used for diagnosing and monitoring myopia without the need for cycloplegic drops during eye examinations. Deep‐learning‐based diagnostic tools have also been employed for the detection of pathological myopia. Moreover, AI‐based formulas have shown higher accuracy in calculating intraocular lens power in highly myopic eyes. The CHARM project, involving over 100,000 Chinese individuals with high myopia, aims to utilize AI in the diagnosis and treatment of myopia. Detection and classification of high myopia, pathologic myopia, and myopia‐related complications were the main application of AI in adults with myopia.

3. Pathogenesis Insights

AI can help uncover complex interactions and patterns associated with myopia development by analyzing large datasets.

4. Treatment Optimization

Personalized recommendations based on individual characteristics and disease progression can enhance treatment outcomes, made possible by predictive models. Nova AI Lenses have recently been utilized for improved management of refractive errors based on each individual's unique visual preferences.

5. Telemedicine Integration

Integrating AI into telemedicine platforms will be a new direction in myopia management, facilitating remote consultations, monitoring, and personalized care. Additionally, AI algorithms can be explored for analyzing photos taken with regular cameras, such as smartphones.

6. Behavioral Intervention

AI‐powered wearable devices can assist in behavioral interventions, such as monitoring screen time, outdoor activities, and other lifestyle factors.

In conclusion, the role of AI in myopia management will continue to evolve, benefiting patients through early detection, personalized treatment, and improved visual outcomes. However, challenges remain in implementing these technologies into clinical practice.