The raise of artificial intelligence? – new algorithms could soon diagnose more than 50 eye diseases at an early stage

Wed, 2018 / 09 / 26

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Ihre Ansprechpartnerin Dipl.-Kauffrau Heike Kielhorn-Schönermark

Dipl.-Kauffrau Heike Kielhorn-Schönermark
Founder and Managing Director

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A cooperation between Google subsidiary Deep Mind, University College London, and Moorfield Eye Hospital (the largest eye center in Europe and North America) could soon revolutionize the diagnosis of eye diseases. The deep learning software is based on algorithms generated from approximately 15,000 eye scans of approx. 7,500 patients using optical coherence tomography (OCT). According to Deep Mind, the artificial intelligence software is able to identify up to 50 different eye diseases and could provide clinical recommendations based on the analysis. Although the algorithm has not yet been approved for clinical use, the research results are more than promising: Being tested against eight established eye experts, the software came to the same conclusion as the experts in 94% of the cases.

As it is often the case with artificial intelligence in the medical environment, voices have already been raised criticizing the software's alleged decision-making power. Researchers and founders of Deep Mind argue that the software is based on multiple algorithms that work independently and check their results against each other. In addition, the system not only provides a simple recommendation for action but justifies it with a series of explanations that give physicians the opportunity to understand the diagnosis making process. The most significant point is that the software was not developed to completely replace the doctor's diagnosis, but to support the triage process. By identifying more quickly which patients need immediate care, physicians have more time to specify the diagnosis and initiate therapeutic measures.

SKC curiously and critically observes new trends and developments in the field of Digital Health and discusses them, inter alia, at SKC’s annual strategy day at the CEBIT Hannover, Germany. Impressions of the Digital Health Summit No. 8 at CEBIT 2018 can be found here.

BY Heike Kielhorn-Schönermark, MBA, managing director and Beate Kasper, M.A. sociology

Sources:
The verge: DeepMind’s AI can detect over 50 eye diseases as accurately as a doctor