Viennese researchers are developing retinal diagnostics using smartphones

Vienna researchers are now developing a new eye disease diagnosis that works on a mobile phone.

Researchers in Vienna are developing retinal diagnostics using smartphones

People are living longer.But this does not mean that they remain physically and mentally healthy.Permanent access to treatment and regular health check-ups are very important for a long and healthy life.

A look at the eyes can often provide important information.The human retina not only reflects eye diseases, but is also considered an important window into a person's overall health.Indicates aging processes, neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's or cardiovascular problems.

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To obtain clear images of the retina;Doctors use specific optical imaging devices such as optical coherence tomography (OCT).However, these devices are large, expensive, and not available everywhere.As part of the "HealthAEye" project of the Medical University of Vienna, the research team led by Hrvoje Bogunović wants to make this type of health monitoring more accessible.A mobile phone should act as a diagnostic tool.

“Modern sensors provide much higher resolution and better image quality than a few years ago.This is an important prerequisite to be able to create interesting images for medical applications," Bagunovic told futurezone.But one smartphone is not enough.For retinal imaging, you will also need an ophthalmoscope, which is used to examine the retina, or an appropriate optical attachment so that the retina can be properly imaged.

With HealthAEye, Bogonovic and his team want to facilitate ongoing monitoring of patients who have already been diagnosed and are receiving regular treatment."Most affected people will need injections for several months." Follow-up treatment varies from patient to patient.

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HealthAEye is designed to facilitate this monitoring."It can detect changes earlier and, if possible, treat at the right time - not too early or too late. This can improve outcomes and reduce unnecessary hospital visits," he explains.

The retina is one of the most blood-supplied and metabolically active tissues in the human body.According to Bohunovich, it is closely related to the central nervous system, because it is closely connected with the brain and at the same time with the cardiovascular system through blood vessels.

As a result, changes that affect the entire body can often also be observed in the retina.

In the field of research, Oculomics, predictions about general health are made from images of the eye using large data sets and artificial intelligence.

The technology is combined with artificial intelligence (AI) which is being developed at the Medical University of Vienna.It is trained using smartphone-based images of the back of the eye (fundus images)."However, we rely on optical coherence tomography, which is currently the gold standard, to reliably detect pathological changes in the retina. This means that AI learns from fundus images but has a reliable clinical basis for determining whether a lesion or disease activity is actually present. OCT provides."

In addition, the team is guided by international guidelines for reliable medical artificial intelligence, such as the recently published "FUTURE AI" recommendations."In this way, we ensure that the development will not only be technically clean, but also medically and ethically clean."The goal of the project is not only to make health monitoring more accessible in the future, but also more profitable.in the back of the eye," says Bogunović. According to him, this would represent a real paradigm shift: from the patient having to reach for the device to a device that reaches the patient.

Home monitoring

In the long term, this retinal imaging is conceivable as part of home health care – "similar to how people today have a blood pressure monitor at home," said the project leader.HealthAEye is intended as a complementary examination to detect relevant changes earlier or to obtain indications that another treatment is needed earlier."It is not expressly intended to replace regular clinical care," he emphasizes.

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The role HealthAEye may play in other diseases will also be explored.“In the long term, the retina could be an important source of non-invasive biomarkers and thus support more active and personalized medicine.”

The lenses measure eye pressure while you sleep

People with glaucoma, a common cause of blindness, have high eye pressure that should be checked by a doctor.The tests are usually performed in a doctor's office and are currently performed only with the eyes open.

Important information around bedtime is ignored.According to one study, intraocular pressure increases significantly, especially at night.It usually peaks early in the morning, before you get up.This increase in pressure during the night can cause irreversible damage to those affected.

High during sleep

A new smart lens developed at the University of Electronic Science and Technology of China can measure pressure and eye movements even when the eyes are closed.The lens transmits the collected data wirelessly to the sensors embedded in the corresponding eyeglass frame.

The smart lens is based on an electromagnetic sensor made of a rotating copper coil that measures pressure and magnetic particles that track eye movement.

Distorted lens

If the intraocular pressure changes, the contact lenses are slightly damaged.This deformation changes the electrical properties of the copper coils, which are detected by the glass sensors.Magnetic sensors track eye movement by detecting changes in magnetic fields as the eye moves in different directions.

The lens is about 195 micrometers thick – about the same as a conventional contact lens.It can stretch up to 20 percent without structural damage.