Enhancing cataract surgery in the global south with AI

In a recent study published in Translational Vision Science and Technology (TVST), researchers shed light on the disparities in cataract surgery outcomes between high-income countries and the Global South. While cataract surgeries are prevalent worldwide, inadequate training and resource constraints often lead to suboptimal results in developing regions.

• Training Deficits: Inadequate training contributes to poor surgical outcomes, affecting up to 50 percent of patients in some regions.

• Video Analysis: Video recording offers insights into surgical procedures, facilitating training and quality monitoring. However, its adoption is limited in the Global South due to cost constraints.

Collaborative efforts aim to develop an AI algorithm tailored for analyzing cataract surgery videos common in developing regions. Researchers emphasize the importance of utilizing smartphone-recorded videos, offering a cost-effective solution to enhance training and outcomes.

• Literature Review: The study conducted a comprehensive review of existing AI algorithms for cataract surgery video analysis, revealing a scarcity of solutions applicable to the Global South.
• Challenges: While certain aspects like instrument tracking show promise, assessing surgical skills and complications remains a challenge.

The next phase involves developing an algorithm compatible with the surgical techniques prevalent in developing regions. Furthermore, comparison studies between smartphone-based and conventional video recording systems are essential to assess feasibility and data quality.

The project receives funding from the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) through the Hospital Partnership program and the Else Kröner-Fresenius Foundation (EKFS).

MEDICA-tradefair.com; Source: University Hospital Bonn (UKB)