Telemedicine approach to screening for severe retinopathy of prematurity: a pilot study

Vision on wheels: Technician-assisted retinopathy of prematurity screening in rural Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh: 2018-2021 Project Report

AIM

To analyze the incidence of sight-threatening retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) in premature infants in rural Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh from 2018 to 2021, and to analyze its association with birthweight (BW), gestational age (GA), and postconceptional age (PCA).

METHODS

Project Vision on Wheels is a free ROP screening and treatment program initiated by a tertiary eye care center in South India in June 2018 to screen preterm infants in rural areas in 11 centers in Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh by trained technicians. Infants with sight-threatening ROP were immediately shifted for vision-preserving laser.

RESULTS

Of the 18,117 infants screened from 2018 to 2021, 1046 infants underwent laser, with the majority being bigger and more mature when compared to Western data. There was a yearly increase in the number of infants with sight-threatening ROP in the lower BW, GA, and PCA categories. The timely detection of the condition by committed screening led to salvage of vision by timely laser in 100% of the treated babies in all the years. The incidence of sight-threatening ROP had a yearly decrease in higher BW, GA, and PCA categories. These trends were statistically significant ( P = 0.001 for ROP and BW, P = 0.037 for ROP and GA, and P = 0.001 for ROP and PCA).

CONCLUSION

The statistically significant trend of decreasing sight-threatening ROP in babies with higher BW, GA, and PCA and increasing treatable ROP in younger and smaller babies (with lower BWs, GAs, and PCAs) in rural India, over time, is a hitherto unreported finding. This is the first such study in rural Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh combined, with the largest data to date (as per MEDLINE search) to document this healthier trend.

Automated diagnosis of plus disease in retinopathy of prematurity using quantification of vessels characteristics

The condition known as Plus disease is distinguished by atypical alterations in the retinal vasculature of neonates born prematurely. It has been demonstrated that the diagnosis of Plus disease is subjective and qualitative in nature. The utilization of quantitative methods and computer-based image analysis to enhance the objectivity of Plus disease diagnosis has been extensively established in the literature. This study presents the development of a computer-based image analysis method aimed at automatically distinguishing Plus images from non-Plus images. The proposed methodology conducts a quantitative analysis of the vascular characteristics linked to Plus disease, thereby aiding physicians in making informed judgments. A collection of 76 posterior retinal images from a diverse group of infants who underwent screening for Retinopathy of Prematurity (ROP) was obtained. A reference standard diagnosis was established as the majority of the labeling performed by three experts in ROP during two separate sessions. The process of segmenting retinal vessels was carried out using a semi-automatic methodology. Computer algorithms were developed to compute the tortuosity, dilation, and density of vessels in various retinal regions as potential discriminative characteristics. A classifier was provided with a set of selected features in order to distinguish between Plus images and non-Plus images. This study included 76 infants (49 [64.5%] boys) with mean birth weight of 1305 ± 427 g and mean gestational age of 29.3 ± 3 weeks. The average level of agreement among experts for the diagnosis of plus disease was found to be 79% with a standard deviation of 5.3%. In terms of intra-expert agreement, the average was 85% with a standard deviation of 3%. Furthermore, the average tortuosity of the five most tortuous vessels was significantly higher in Plus images compared to non-Plus images (p ≤ 0.0001). The curvature values based on points were found to be significantly higher in Plus images compared to non-Plus images (p ≤ 0.0001). The maximum diameter of vessels within a region extending 5-disc diameters away from the border of the optic disc (referred to as 5DD) exhibited a statistically significant increase in Plus images compared to non-Plus images (p ≤ 0.0001). The density of vessels in Plus images was found to be significantly higher compared to non-Plus images (p ≤ 0.0001). The classifier's accuracy in distinguishing between Plus and non-Plus images, as determined through tenfold cross-validation, was found to be 0.86 ± 0.01. This accuracy was observed to be higher than the diagnostic accuracy of one out of three experts when compared to the reference standard. The implemented algorithm in the current study demonstrated a commendable level of accuracy in detecting Plus disease in cases of retinopathy of prematurity, exhibiting comparable performance to that of expert diagnoses. By engaging in an objective analysis of the characteristics of vessels, there exists the possibility of conducting a quantitative assessment of the disease progression's features. The utilization of this automated system has the potential to enhance physicians' ability to diagnose Plus disease, thereby offering valuable contributions to the management of ROP through the integration of traditional ophthalmoscopy and image-based telemedicine methodologies.

Diagnostic Accuracy of Pediatrician-performed Digital Retinal Imaging with 3nethra neo for ROP Screening

OBJECTIVES

To evaluate the accuracy of pediatrician-performed wide-field digital retinal imaging (WFDRI) for diagnosing Retinopathy of prematurity (ROP), as compared to binocular indirect ophthalmoscopy (BIO) as the reference standard.

METHODS

Eligible infants undergoing ROP screening were enrolled consecutively. BIO was performed by trained ophthalmologists, followed by WFDRI (using "3nethra neo" camera) by a pediatrician. An expert pediatric ophthalmologist reviewed de-identified images for quality, presence, and severity of ROP. She was masked to the findings of BIO and the pediatrician. Diagnostic accuracy for detecting any ROP, ROP requiring treatment (Type 1), and ROP requiring referral (Type 1 or 2) were calculated for WFDRI, considering BIO as the reference standard.

RESULTS

The analysis included 427 eyes. The sensitivity, specificity, positive likelihood ratio (PLR), negative likelihood ratio (NLR), diagnostic accuracy, and diagnostic odds ratio of WFDRI were 0.88 (95% CI: 0.81, 0.93), 0.89 (0.85, 0.92), 7.8 (5.7, 10.9), 0.14 (0.09, 0.21), 0.89 (0.85, 0.91), and 58.3 (31, 110) respectively for detection of 'any ROP'. For detecting ROP requiring treatment (Type 1), the sensitivity, specificity, NLR, and diagnostic accuracy were 0.90 (0.75, 0.97), 1.00 (0.99, 1.00), 0.11 (0.04, 0.27), and 0.99 (0.98, 1.00) respectively. For ROP requiring referral, the sensitivity, specificity, NLR, and diagnostic accuracy of pediatrician-performed WFDRI were 0.92 (0.80, 0.98), 1.00 (0.99, 1.00), 0.08 (0.03, 0.21), and 0.99 (0.98, 1.00) respectively. No serious adverse events were noted. The pediatrician and ophthalmologist had a near-perfect (k-1.00) and strong (k-0.88) agreement for ROP requiring treatment and any ROP, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

Pediatrician-performed WFDRI is feasible, safe, and has excellent diagnostic accuracy for identifying ROP requiring treatment.

A Literary Pediatric Retina Fellowship With Michael T. Trese, MD

Michael T. Trese, MD (1946-2022), a vitreoretinal surgeon, made significant contributions to the field of retina. Although most known for his work in pediatric retina surgery, he was a pioneer in areas such as medical retina, translational research, and telemedicine. This article reviews his major contributions to spread his knowledge more widely to vitreoretinal trainees and specialists. We discuss six areas where Trese made a lasting impact: lens-sparing vitrectomy, familial exudative vitreoretinopathy, congenital X-linked retinoschisis, autologous plasmin enzyme, regenerative medicine, and telemedicine. [Ophthalmic Surg Lasers Imaging Retina 2023;54:701-712.].

Photographic Gel Artifact Simulating International Classification of Retinopathy of Prematurity Notch: Stanford University Network for Diagnosis of Retinopathy of Prematurity (SUNDROP) Report no. 16

PURPOSE

To report a series of fundus photographs taken for retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) screening that contain artifacts with imaging characteristics mimicking a notch, a recently refined classification metric in the International Classification of Retinopathy of Prematurity, third edition.

DESIGN

Retrospective case series.

PARTICIPANTS

Infants requiring ROP screening in neonatal intensive care units from the Stanford University Network for Diagnosis of Retinopathy of Prematurity (SUNDROP) and TeleROP telemedicine screening programs.

METHODS

Preterm infants meeting ROP examination criteria were screened with 130° wide-angle imaging systems. The images were taken by a trained nurse in the neonatal intensive care unit and transferred to an ROP specialist using a Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act-compliant picture archiving and communication system for interpretation.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Presence of an artifact that appeared consistent with a notch.

RESULTS

We identified a total of 17 cases in ROP screening with artifact findings that had imaging characteristics similar to a notch. The artifactual appearance of the pseudo-notch was created by the camera illumination system within the gel-lens interface when the lens was not well apposed to the cornea. In telemedicine screening for ROP, we present fundus images of eyes with a pseudo-notch appearance; review of overlapping images can help differentiate between notch and artifact.

CONCLUSIONS

Pediatric retinal specialists need to be aware that artifacts play a confounding role in screening for ROP, that can be mitigated through the use of overlapping and redundant images.

FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE(S)

Proprietary or commercial disclosure may be found after the references.

Multivariate Models to Diagnose Early Referral-Warranted Retinopathy of Prematurity With Handheld Optical Coherence Tomography

Purpose

The purpose of this study was to create multivariate models predicting early referral-warranted retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) using non-contact handheld spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (OCT) and demographic data.

Methods

Between July 2015 and February 2018, infants ≤1500 grams birth weight or ≤30 weeks gestational age from 2 academic neonatal intensive care units were eligible for this study. Infants were excluded if they were too unstable to participate in ophthalmologic examination (2), had inadequate image quality (20), or received prior ROP treatment (2). Multivariate models were created using demographic variables and imaging findings to identify early referral-warranted ROP (referral-warranted ROP and/or pre-plus disease) by routine indirect ophthalmoscopy.

Results

A total of 167 imaging sessions of 71 infants (45% male infants, gestational age 28.2+/-2.8 weeks, and birth weight 995.6+/-292.0 grams) were included. Twelve of 71 infants (17%) developed early referral-warranted ROP. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) was 0.94 for the generalized linear mixed model (sensitivity = 95.5% and specificity = 80.7%) and 0.83 for the machine learning model (sensitivity = 91.7% and specificity = 77.8%). The strongest variables in both models were birth weight, image-based Vitreous Opacity Ratio (an estimate of opacity density), vessel elevation, and hyporeflective vessels. A model using only birth weight and gestational age yielded an AUC of 0.68 (sensitivity = 77.3% and specificity = 63.4%), and a model using only imaging biomarkers yielded 0.88 (sensitivity = 81.8% and specificity = 84.8%).

Conclusions

A generalized linear mixed model containing handheld OCT biomarkers can identify early referral-warranted ROP. Machine learning produced a less optimal model.

Translational Relevance

With further validation, this work may lead to a better-tolerated ROP screening tool.

Retinopathy of prematurity detection: a retrospective quality improvement project before-after implementation of retinal digital imaging for screening

Screening of retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) was modified in a level-3 neonatal intensive care unit by the introduction of a wide-field retinal imaging. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) diagnosis was improved or not compared to previously used binocular indirect ophthalmoscopy (BIO). This was a retrospective, uncontrolled, quality improvement project. Records of consecutive premature newborns screened for ROP over two 1-year periods were reviewed. Systemic factors potentially influencing the occurrence of ROP were investigated using uni- and multivariable linear regression followed by stepwise forward regression. ROP screening was performed by ophthalmologists using BIO in 2014, and digital wide-field retinal imaging (Panocam™ pro) in 2019. Records of N = 297 patients were analyzed (N = 159 in 2014 and N = 138 in 2019). The proportion of ROP diagnosed at any stage, over the total number of neonates screened, was significantly higher in 2019 (n = 46/138, 33.1%) compared to 2014 (n = 11/159, 6.9%) (p < 0.0001). Most neonates presented with mild forms of ROP during both 1-year periods analyzed. After adjustment for all parameters influencing ROP occurrence, the variables contributing independently to the diagnosis of any stage of ROP were birth weight (p = 0.002), duration of mechanical ventilation (p = 0.028) and wide-field fundus camera-assisted screening (p < 0.001).

CONCLUSION

After adjusting for many recognized systemic factors influencing the development of ROP, screening by wide-field digital retinal imaging was independently associated with higher ROP detection.

WHAT IS KNOWN

• No consensus has been reached to replace binocular indirect ophthalmoscopy by retinal imaging for ROP screening. • Diagnostic accuracy and high sensitivity and specificity has been reported for wide-field digital imaging.

WHAT IS NEW

• The introduction of wide-field imaging for ROP screening in at level-3 reference center was independently associated to higher ROP detection.

Effective field of view of wide-field fundus photography in the Stanford University Network for Diagnosis of Retinopathy of Prematurity (SUNDROP)

Five-field 130° wide-angle imaging is the standard of care for retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) screening with an ideal hypothetical composite field-of-view (FOV) of 180°. We hypothesized that in many real-world scenarios the effective composite FOV is considerably less than ideal. This observational retrospective study analyzed the effective FOV of fundus photos of patients screened for ROP as part of the Stanford University Network for Diagnosis of Retinopathy of Prematurity (SUNDROP) initiative. Five fundus photos were selected from each eye per image session. Effective FOV was defined as the largest circular area centered on the optic disc that encompassed retina in each of the four cardinal views. Seventy-three subjects were analyzed, 35 without ROP and 34 with ROP. Mean effective FOV was 144.55 ± 6.62° ranging from 130.00 to 153.71°. Effective FOV was not correlated with the presence or absence of ROP, gestational age, birth weight, or postmenstrual age. Mean effective FOV was wider in males compared to females. Standard five-field 130° fundus photos yielded an average effective FOV of 144.54° in the SUNDROP cohort. This implies that an imaging FOV during ROP screening considerably less than the hypothetical ideal of 180° is sufficient for detecting treatment warranted ROP.

ROP screening with the Pictor Plus camera: a telemedicine solution for developing countries

PURPOSE

To assess the Pictor Plus portable noncontact ophthalmic camera for use in diagnosis of severe retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) and its feasibility for telemedicine applications, especially in developing countries.

METHODS

A cross-sectional study was conducted from April 2018 to December 2019 in six public neonatal care centers in the state of Rio de Janeiro. Observer 1 performed the examination with a binocular indirect ophthalmoscope and subsequently captured a digital image using the Pictor Plus camera. These images were analyzed by observers 2 and 3, who were masked to the results recorded by observer 1.

RESULTS

The convenience sample was 200 premature newborns (n = 712 eyes) with a birthweight of ≤1,500 g or gestational age at birth of ≤32 weeks. The sensitivity of Pictor Plus digital images for the diagnosis of plus or pre-plus disease was 65.8% for observer 2 and 63.2% for observer 3; the specificity, 100% and 98,4%, respectively. Interobserver agreement analysis for image reading compared to observer 1 indirect ophthalmoscopy showed kappa coefficients of 0.77 (observer 2) and 0.68 (observer 3).

CONCLUSIONS

In our study cohort, the Pictor Plus, a relatively low-cost camera, was effective in facilitating accurate diagnosis of ROP.

Utilizing near infra-red spectroscopy to identify physiologic variations during digital retinal imaging in preterm infants

OBJECTIVE

Evaluate physiologic changes during digital retinal imaging (DRI) using near infra-red spectroscopy (NIRS).

STUDY DESIGN

Prospective observational study of preterm infants undergoing retinopathy of prematurity screening via DRI using wide-field retinal camera. Cardiorespiratory (CR) and NIRS data were collected, trends correlated for changes and coefficient representing "slopes" of outcomes were plotted over time. The p value associated with each slope coefficient was tested to assess for slope differences from time of intervention (time = 0/or no slope).

RESULTS

Thirty-one preterm infants were included in the study. There were no significant changes in pre- and post-slopes for cerebral or mesenteric oxygenation, or CR indices with eye drop administration compared to baseline. DRI resulted in significant increase in post exam slope in cerebral oxygenation, mesenteric oxygenation and respiratory rate.

CONCLUSION

ROP examination using DRI was well tolerated with slight improvements in cerebral and mesenteric perfusion without significant safety concerns.

Development of 3D Printed Smartphone-Based Multi-Purpose Fundus Camera (MultiScope) for Retinopathy of Prematurity

Retinopathy of Prematurity (ROP) is a prominent source of low vision and blindness in preterm babies. Wide-Field Digital Retinal Imaging (WFDRI) systems acquire accurate digital images which are very useful for identification, documentation and transmitting the various retinal diseases. This telemedicine technique has potential for an alternative tool for Binocular Indirect Ophthalmoscopy (BIO) in ROP screening, but it is very expensive and accessibility for poor communities is limited. Capabilities of good illumination, high resolution camera and processing speed of the modern smartphones are being identified as a substitute. Potential applications of 3D printing is that it provides a severe impact in medical field, especially in ophthalmology sector. Competences of 3D printing are very useful for the development of retinal camera from any smartphone with the help of 3D printable devices. The primary aim of this study is to develop a handheld 3D printed smartphone-based multi-purpose fundus camera for ROP screening. The secondary aim is to check the feasibility and compare the digital fundus images obtained from the developed fundus camera against the commercial RetCam imaging. The proposed cost effective and remote reading device is an alternative to WFDRI for ROP screening and can improve the potential of ROP care for low resource communities.

A Systematic Review of Current Teleophthalmology Services in New Zealand Compared to the Four Comparable Countries of the United Kingdom, Australia, United States of America (USA) and Canada

Background

Over 700,000 New Zealanders (NZ), particularly elderly and Māori, live without timely access to specialist ophthalmology services. Teleophthalmology is a widely recognised tool that can assist in overcoming resource and distance barriers. Teleophthalmology gained unprecedented traction in NZ during the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent lockdown. However, its provision is still limited and there are equity issues. The aim of this study was to conduct a systematic review identifying, describing and contrasting teleophthalmology services in NZ with the comparable countries of Australia, USA, Canada and the United Kingdom.

Methods

The electronic databases Embase, PubMed, Web of Science, Google Scholar and Google were systemically searched using the keywords: telemedicine, ophthalmology, tele-ophthalmology/teleophthalmology. The searches were filtered to the countries above, with no time constraints. An integrative approach was used to synthesise findings.

Results

One hundred and thirty-two studies were identified describing 90 discrete teleophthalmology services. Articles spanned from 1997 to 2020. Models were categorised into general eye care (n=21; 16%); emergency/trauma (n=6; 4.5%); school screening (n=25; 19%); artificial intelligence (AI) (n=23; 18%); and disease-specific models of care (MOC) (n=57; 43%). The most common diseases addressed were diabetic retinopathy (n=23; 17%); retinopathy of prematurity (n=9; 7%); and glaucoma (n=8; 6%). Programs were mainly centred in the US (n=72; 54.5%), followed by the UK (n=29; 22%), then Canada (n=16; 12%), Australia (n=13; 10%), with the fewest identified in NZ (n=3; 2%). Models generally involved an ophthalmologist consultative service, remote supervision and triaging. Most models involved local clinicians transmitting fed-forward or live images.

Conclusion

Teleophthalmology will likely play a crucial role in the future of eye care. COVID-19 has offered a unique opportunity to observe the use of teleophthalmology services globally. Feed-forward and, increasingly, live-based teleophthalmology services have demonstrated feasibility and cost-effectiveness in similar countries internationally. New Zealand’s teleophthalmology services, however, are currently limited. Investing in strategic partnerships and technology at a national level can advance health equities in ophthalmic care.

Screening for Retinopathy of Prematurity Through Utilization a Pediatric Retinal Camera at Jim Pattison Children's Hospital: A Vision for Improved Care

Retinopathy of Prematurity (ROP) is a vascular proliferative disorder of preterm infants, with increased disease severity and incidence occurring with lower gestational age and birth weight. An alternate approach to ROP screening with wide-field digital retinal imaging helps with the early detection of ROP, especially during the pandemic.

Charting the Globe: How Technologies Have Affected Our Understanding of Retinal Findings in Abusive Head Trauma/Shaken Baby Syndrome

Purpose: Ocular findings such as retinal hemorrhages are common in abusive head trauma (AHT). Binocular indirect ophthalmoscopy has been the standard for assessing the eyes of children who are victims of AHT. However, technological advances have changed our understanding of retinal findings in AHT.Methods: Literature review on AHT - retinal findings, imaging technologies, models of representation, and telemedicine applications.Results: Many studies suggest vitreoretinal traction from repetitive acceleration-deceleration shearing forces during shaking plays an important role in the development of retinal findings in AHT. This is further supported by different imaging modalities [optical coherence tomography (OCT); magnetic resonance imaging (MRI); fluorescein angiography (FA)] and models of representation (animal and mechanical models; finite element analysis).Conclusion: Emerging technologies have augmented our diagnostic abilities, enhanced our understanding regarding the pathophysiology of retinal findings, and strengthened the link between vitreoretinal traction and ocular pathology in AHT. Telemedicine is also starting to play an important role in AHT.

Retinopathy of prematurity screening and risk mitigation during the COVID-19 pandemic

BACKGROUND

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has significantly disrupted the delivery of healthcare. Although most nonurgent ophthalmology visits at Boston Children's Hospital were canceled, premature infants at risk for retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) still required timely, in-person care during the initial 3-month period of the infection surge in Massachusetts. The purpose of the current study was to report our protocols for mitigating risk of exposure to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) between infants and eye care providers and to compare examination rates and results with the same 3-month period in 2019.

METHODS

During the infection surge, we added new infection control measures and strengthened existing ones. Additional personal protective equipment was used, and the number of ophthalmologists rotating in the three high-capacity NICUs we service was limited.

RESULTS

More infants required ROP examinations during the study period in 2020 than in the same period in 2019, but fewer examinations were performed. There were no cases of missed progression to severe ROP during this time and no known transmission of SARS-CoV-2 between ROP patients and ophthalmology staff.

CONCLUSIONS

Overall, effective ROP care was safely provided during the COVID-19 pandemic, and contact with this vulnerable population was minimized.

Neonatal eye screening for 203 healthy term new-borns using a wide-field digital retinal imaging system

Background

The current practice for new-born eye examination by an Ophthalmologist in Malaysian hospitals is limited to only preterm new-borns, syndromic or ill infants. Healthy term new-borns are usually discharged without a thorough eye examination. This study is aimed at determining the proportion and types of ocular abnormalities detected in purportedly healthy term new-borns.

Method

This cross-sectional study is comprised of 203 participants, all purportedly healthy term new-born infants from the Obstetrics and Gynaecology ward at Hospital Kuala Lumpur over a 6 months period. The examination list includes external eye examination, red reflex test, and fundus imaging using a wide-field digital retinal imaging system (Phoenix Clinical ICON Paediatric Retinal Camera) by a trained Investigator. The pathologies detected were documented. The results were compared and correlated with similar studies published in the literature previously.

Results

Total ocular abnormalities were detected in 34% of the infants. The most common finding was retinal haemorrhage in 29.6% of the infants, of which 53.3% occurred bilaterally. Spontaneous vaginal delivery (SVD) remained the greatest risk factor which has nearly 3.5 times higher risk of new-borns developing retinal haemorrhage compared to Lower Segment Caesarean Section (LSCS). There was a 6% increased likelihood of developing retinal haemorrhage for every 1-min increment in the duration of 2nd stage of labour.

Conclusion

Universal eye screening for all new-borns using a wide-field digital imaging system is realistically possible, safe, and useful in detecting posterior segment disorders. The most common abnormality detected is retinal haemorrhage.

Current Application of Digital Diagnosing Systems for Retinopathy of Prematurity

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE

Retinopathy of prematurity (ROP), a proliferative vascular eye disease, is one of the leading causes of blindness in childhood and prevails in premature infants with low-birth-weight. The recent progress in digital image analysis offers novel strategies for ROP diagnosis. This paper provides a comprehensive review on the development of digital diagnosing systems for ROP to software researchers. It may also be adopted as a guide to ophthalmologists for selecting the most suitable diagnostic software in the clinical setting, particularly for the remote ophthalmic support.

METHODS

We review the latest literatures concerning the application of digital diagnosing systems for ROP. The diagnosing systems are analyzed and categorized. Articles published between 1998 and 2020 were screened with the two searching engines Pubmed and Google Scholar.

RESULTS

Telemedicine is a method of remote image interpretation that can provide medical service to remote regions, and yet requires training to local operators. On the basis of image collection in telemedicine, computer-based image analytical systems for ROP were later developed. So far, the aforementioned systems have been mainly developed by virtue of classic machine learning, deep learning (DL) and multiple machine learning. During the past two decades, various computer-aided systems for ROP based on classic machine learning (e.g. RISA, ROPtool, CAIER) became available and have achieved satisfactory performance. Further, automated systems for ROP diagnosis based on DL are developed for clinical applications and exhibit high accuracy. Moreover, multiple instance learning is another method to establish an automated system for ROP detection besides DL, which, however, warrants further investigation in future.

CONCLUSION

At present, the incorporation of computer-based image analysis with telemedicine potentially enables the detection, supervision and in-time treatment of ROP for the preterm babies.

Retinal imaging in infants

Digital retinal imaging is at the core of a revolution that is continually improving the screening, diagnosis, documentation, monitoring, and treatment of infant retinal diseases. Historically, imaging the retina of infants had been limited and difficult to obtain. Recent advances in photographic instrumentation have significantly improved the ability to obtain high quality multimodal images of the infant retina. These include color fundus photography with different camera angles, ultrasonography, fundus fluorescein angiography, optical coherence tomography, and optical coherence tomography angiography. We provide a summary of the current literature on retinal imaging in infants and highlight areas where further research is required.

Digital Technology for AMD Management in the Post-COVID-19 New Normal

PURPOSE

The COVID-19 pandemic has put strain on healthcare systems and the availability and allocation of healthcare manpower, resources and infrastructure. With immediate priorities to protect the health and safety of both patients and healthcare service providers, ophthalmologists globally were advised to defer nonurgent cases, while at the same time managing sight-threatening conditions such as neovascular Age-related Macular Degeneration (AMD). The management of AMD patients both from a monitoring and treatment perspective presents a particular challenge for ophthalmologists. This review looks at how these pressures have encouraged the acceptance and speed of adoption of digitalization.

DESIGN AND METHODS

A literature review was conducted on the use of digital technology during COVID-19 pandemic, and on the transformation of medicine, ophthalmology and AMD screening through digitalization.

RESULTS

In the management of AMD, the implementation of artificial intelligence and "virtual clinics" have provided assistance in screening, diagnosis, monitoring of the progression and the treatment of AMD. In addition, hardware and software developments in home monitoring devices has assisted in self-monitoring approaches.

CONCLUSIONS

Digitalization strategies and developments are currently ongoing and underway to ensure early detection, stability and visual improvement in patients suffering from AMD in this COVID-19 era. This may set a precedence for the post COVID-19 new normal where digital platforms may be routine, standard and expected in healthcare delivery.

Quantitative Handheld Swept-Source Optical Coherence Tomography Angiography in Awake Preterm and Full-Term Infants

Purpose

To compare retinal vascular parameters acquired by handheld swept-source optical coherence tomography angiography (SS-OCTA) between nonsedated preterm and full-term infants.

Methods

Preterm and full-term infants at the University of Washington Medical Center were enrolled. Retinal angiograms (nominal size ∼7 × 7 mm²) were obtained at each routine retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) screening session for preterms and once during the first 72 hours of life for full-terms. Macular vessel area density and nonperfusion area were evaluated on the binarized vasculature map in both small (1.5 × 1.5 mm) and large (3 × 3 mm) quadrants. Average vessel diameter and tortuosity values were obtained from each large vessel branch (length >200 µm). All vascular analyses used previously published algorithms.

Results

Handheld SS-OCTA captured 31 of 55 (56%) high-quality volumes on 8 awake preterm infants (gestational age 28 ± 4 weeks, birth weight 891 ± 314 g, postmenstrual age at first imaging session 37 ± 2 weeks) and 48 of 54 (89%) volumes on 12 awake full-term infants (gestational age 39 ± 1 weeks, birth weight 3405 ± 329 g). Signal-to-noise ratio was 5.08 ± 1.52 dB in preterm and 4.90 ± 1.12 dB in full-term infants. Preterm infants had higher mean large vessel tortuosity compared to full-term infants (P = 0.004). The large nasal quadrant vessel area density of infants with stage 3 and/or pre-plus or worse ROP was higher than other preterm infants (P = 0.007).

Conclusions

Although inadequate image quality limited usable imaging sessions, handheld SS-OCTA achieved adequate signal-to-noise ratio in nonsedated infants for quantitative retinal vascular parameter analysis.

Translational Relevance

Large- and small-vessel parameters were associated with prematurity and ROP severity, respectively.

Retinopathy of Prematurity: Evolving Treatment With Anti-Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor

PURPOSE

To discuss the evolution in retinopathy of prematurity since its first description as retrolental fibroplasia in the United States, including the changes in the understanding of pathophysiology; methods of diagnosis; destructive, anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (anti-VEGF), and supportive treatments; and differences in retinopathy of prematurity manifestations worldwide. The overall goal is to clarify retinopathy of prematurity currently and formulate questions to optimize future care.

STUDY DESIGN

Literature review and synthesis.

METHODS

Critical review and consideration of the literature with inclusion of historical articles and those regarding pathophysiologic risk factors, retinopathy of prematurity worldwide, basic and clinical science particularly regarding anti-VEGF mechanisms and agents tested in clinical trials.

RESULTS

Retinopathy of prematurity has evolved from affecting infants approximately 2 months premature to affecting extremely premature infants. Worldwide, retinopathy of prematurity differs and, in emerging countries, has features similar to that experienced in the United States when retinopathy of prematurity first manifested. Treatments have evolved from destruction of the peripheral avascular retina to inhibit angiogenic stimuli to anti-VEGF agents, which inhibit pathologic angiogenesis but also extend normal intraretinal angiogenesis by ordering the development of intraretinal vessels. Clinical trial evidence is accruing with the goal to develop less destructive treatments to optimize vision and that are protective to the retina and infant.

CONCLUSIONS

Goals for retinopathy of prematurity are to optimize prenatal and perinatal care, improve diagnostic acumen worldwide and refine treatment strategies, including with anti-VEGF agents, to inhibit intravitreal angiogenesis and facilitate vascularization of the previously avascular retina, which include supporting neural and vascular development of the premature infant and retina.

Retinopathy of Prematurity: How to Prevent the Third Epidemics in Developing Countries

Retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) is vasoproliferative disease affecting preterm infants and is a leading cause of avoidable childhood blindness worldwide. The world is currently experiencing the third epidemic of ROP, where majority of the cases are from middle-income countries. Over 40% of the world's premature infants were born in India, China, Bangladesh, Pakistan, and Indonesia. Together with other neighboring nations, this region has unique challenges in ROP management. Key aspects of the challenges including heavier and more mature infants developing severe ROP. Current strategies include adoption of national screening guidelines, telemedicine, integrating vision rehabilitation and software innovations in the form of artificial intelligence. This review overviews some of these aspects.

The Role of Telemedicine to Alleviate an Increasingly Burdened Healthcare System: Retinopathy of Prematurity

Telemedicine-based remote digital fundus imaging (RDFI-TM) offers a promising platform for the screening of retinopathy of prematurity. RDFI-TM addresses some of the challenges faced by ophthalmologists in examining this vulnerable population in both low- and high-income countries. In this review, we studied the evidence on the use of RDFI-TM and analyzed the practical framework for RDFI-TM systems. We assessed the novel technological advances that can be deployed within RDFI-TM systems including noncontact imaging systems, smartphone-based imaging tools, and deep learning algorithms.

Auto-Processed Retinal Vessel Shadow View Images From Bedside Optical Coherence Tomography to Evaluate Plus Disease in Retinopathy of Prematurity

Purpose

To describe the creation of en face retinal vessel shadow view (RVSV) optical coherence tomography (OCT) images and assess the feasibility of using these for evaluating vascular disease in preterm infants at risk for retinopathy of prematurity (ROP).

Methods

In this exploratory study, we selected images from eyes with a range of ROP vascular disease, prospectively acquired from preterm infants using an investigational, noncontact, handheld, bedside swept-source OCT. We autosegmented OCT volumes using custom infant-specific software, extracted RVSV-OCT images from volumetric data bracketed around the retinal pigment epithelium, and automontaged the resulting RVSV-OCT images. Three masked ophthalmologists graded the RVSV-OCT montages as plus, pre-plus, or neither and ranked them by relative vascular disease severity.

Results

We selected images from 17 imaging sessions (7 plus, 4 pre-plus, 6 neither on clinical examination). On review, 15/17 (88%) RVSV-OCT montages were gradable for plus, pre-plus, or neither and all 17 montages were rankable for relative severity. Intergrader agreement for plus, pre-plus, or neither grading was good (κ, 0.67; 95% confidence interval, 0.42–0.86) and for relative severity ranking was excellent (intraclass correlation coefficient, 0.98; 95% confidence interval, 0.96–0.99).

Conclusions

Our novel automatic processing method can create RVSV-OCT montages optimized for retinal vessel visualization for ROP screening. Although our data support the feasibility of using RVSV-OCT montages for ranking relative vascular disease severity, there is room for improved OCT image capture and processing methods in preterm infants screened for ROP.

Translational Relevance

Creation and grading of RVSV-OCT images could eventually be integrated into an alternative method for ROP screening.

Comparison of wide field imaging by nurses with indirect ophthalmoscopy by ophthalmologists for retinopathy of prematurity: a diagnostic accuracy study

OBJECTIVES

Retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) is a vasoproliferative disease of the preterm retina with the potential to cause irreversible blindness. Timely screening and treatment of ROP are critical. Neonatal nurses trained in wide field digital retinal photography (WFDRP) for screening may provide a safe and effective strategy to reduce the burden of ophthalmologists in performing binocular indirect ophthalmoscopy (BIO). The objective of the study was to determine the diagnostic accuracy of WFDRP in the diagnosis of referral warranting ROP (RWROP).

DESIGN

Prospective diagnostic accuracy study.

SETTING

A tertiary neonatal intensive care unit in Perth, Western Australia.

PARTICIPANTS

Preterm infants who fulfilled the Australian ROP screening criteria (gestational age (GA) <31 weeks, birth weight (BW) <1250 g).

INTERVENTION

Sets of 5-6 images per eye (index test) were obtained within 24-48 hours prior to or after the BIO (reference standard), and uploaded onto a secured server. A wide field digital camera (RetCam, Natus, Pleasanton, California, USA) was used for imaging. A paediatric ophthalmologist performed the BIO. The ophthalmologists performing BIO versus reporting the images were masked to each other's findings.

PRIMARY OUTCOME

The area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was used as a measure of accuracy of WFDRP to diagnose RWROP.

RESULTS

A total of 85 infants (mean BW; 973.43 g, mean GA; 29 weeks) underwent a median of two sessions of WFDRP. There were 188 episodes of screening with an average of five images per eye. WFDRP identified RWROP in 7.4% (14/188 sessions) of examinations. In one infant, BIO showed bilateral plus disease and WFDRP did not pick up the plus disease. WFDRP image interpretation had a sensitivity of 80%, specificity of 94.5% for the detection of RWROP. The 'area under the ROC curve' was 88% when adjusted for covariates.

CONCLUSIONS

WFDRP by neonatal nurses was feasible and effective for diagnosing RWROP in our set up.

TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER

ACTRN12616001386426.

Evaluation of artificial intelligence-based telemedicine screening for retinopathy of prematurity

Retrospective evaluation of a deep learning-derived retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) vascular severity score in an operational ROP screening program demonstrated high diagnostic performance for detection of type 2 or worse ROP. To our knowledge, this is the first report in the literature that evaluated the use of artificial intelligence for ROP screening and represents a proof of concept. With further prospective validation, this technology might improve the accuracy, efficiency, and objectivity of diagnosis and facilitate earlier detection of disease progression in patients with potentially blinding ROP.

Telemedicine Follow-Up for Intravitreal Bevacizumab Injection in the Stanford University Network for Diagnosis of Retinopathy of Prematurity (SUNDROP) Cohort

Telemedicine has emerged as a potential solution to face the disproportion between infants that need to be screened for retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) and the lack of ophthalmologists. We evaluated its utility in the follow-up after off-label intravitreal injection of bevacizumab. None of the treated infants ended up with bad anatomic outcome. Telemedicine is an alternative safe method to monitor patients after treatment.

Practice Guidelines for Ocular Telehealth-Diabetic Retinopathy, Third Edition

Contributors The following document and appendices represent the third edition of the Practice Guidelines for Ocular Telehealth-Diabetic Retinopathy. These guidelines were developed by the Diabetic Retinopathy Telehealth Practice Guidelines Working Group. This working group consisted of a large number of subject matter experts in clinical applications for telehealth in ophthalmology. The editorial committee consisted of Mark B. Horton, OD, MD, who served as working group chair and Christopher J. Brady, MD, MHS, and Jerry Cavallerano, OD, PhD, who served as cochairs. The writing committees were separated into seven different categories. They are as follows: 1.Clinical/operational: Jerry Cavallerano, OD, PhD (Chair), Gail Barker, PhD, MBA, Christopher J. Brady, MD, MHS, Yao Liu, MD, MS, Siddarth Rathi, MD, MBA, Veeral Sheth, MD, MBA, Paolo Silva, MD, and Ingrid Zimmer-Galler, MD. 2.Equipment: Veeral Sheth, MD (Chair), Mark B. Horton, OD, MD, Siddarth Rathi, MD, MBA, Paolo Silva, MD, and Kristen Stebbins, MSPH. 3.Quality assurance: Mark B. Horton, OD, MD (Chair), Seema Garg, MD, PhD, Yao Liu, MD, MS, and Ingrid Zimmer-Galler, MD. 4.Glaucoma: Yao Liu, MD, MS (Chair) and Siddarth Rathi, MD, MBA. 5.Retinopathy of prematurity: Christopher J. Brady, MD, MHS (Chair) and Ingrid Zimmer-Galler, MD. 6.Age-related macular degeneration: Christopher J. Brady, MD, MHS (Chair) and Ingrid Zimmer-Galler, MD. 7.Autonomous and computer assisted detection, classification and diagnosis of diabetic retinopathy: Michael Abramoff, MD, PhD (Chair), Michael F. Chiang, MD, and Paolo Silva, MD.

Telemedicine for Retinopathy of Prematurity

Background: Retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) is a disease of the retinal vasculature that remains a leading cause of childhood blindness worldwide despite improvements in the systemic care of premature newborns. Screening for ROP is effective and cost-effective, but in many areas, access to skilled examiners to conduct dilated examinations is poor. Remote screening with retinal photography is an alternative strategy that may allow for improved ROP care. Methods: The current literature was reviewed to find clinical trials and expert consensus documents on the state-of-the-art of telemedicine for ROP. Results: Several studies have confirmed the utility of telemedicine for ROP. In addition, several clinical studies have reported favorable long-term results. Many investigators have reinforced the need for detailed protocols on image acquisition and image interpretation. Conclusions: Telemedicine for ROP appears to be a viable alternative to live ophthalmoscopic examinations in many circumstances. Standardization and documentation afforded by telemedicine may provide additional benefits to providers and their patients. With continued improvements in image quality and affordability of imaging systems as well as improved automated image interpretation tools anticipated in the near future, telemedicine for ROP is expected to play an expanding role for a uniquely vulnerable patient population.

Artificial Intelligence in Retinopathy of Prematurity Diagnosis

Retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) is a leading cause of childhood blindness worldwide. The diagnosis of ROP is subclassified by zone, stage, and plus disease, with each area demonstrating significant intra- and interexpert subjectivity and disagreement. In addition to improved efficiencies for ROP screening, artificial intelligence may lead to automated, quantifiable, and objective diagnosis in ROP. This review focuses on the development of artificial intelligence for automated diagnosis of plus disease in ROP and highlights the clinical and technical challenges of both the development and implementation of artificial intelligence in the real world.

Deep Learning Algorithm for Automated Diagnosis of Retinopathy of Prematurity Plus Disease

Purpose

This study describes the initial development of a deep learning algorithm, ROP.AI, to automatically diagnose retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) plus disease in fundal images.

Methods

ROP.AI was trained using 6974 fundal images from Australasian image databases. Each image was given a diagnosis as part of real-world routine ROP screening and classified as normal or plus disease. The algorithm was trained using 80% of the images and validated against the remaining 20% within a hold-out test set. Performance in diagnosing plus disease was evaluated against an external set of 90 images. Performance in detecting pre-plus disease was also tested. As a screening tool, the algorithm's operating point was optimized for sensitivity and negative predictive value, and its performance reevaluated.

Results

For plus disease diagnosis within the 20% hold-out test set, the algorithm achieved a 96.6% sensitivity, 98.0% specificity, and 97.3% ± 0.7% accuracy. Area under the receiver operating characteristic curve was 0.993. Within the independent test set, the algorithm achieved a 93.9% sensitivity, 80.7% specificity, and 95.8% negative predictive value. For detection of pre-plus and plus disease, the algorithm achieved 81.4% sensitivity, 80.7% specificity, and 80.7% negative predictive value. Following the identification of an optimized operating point, the algorithm diagnosed plus disease with a 97.0% sensitivity and 97.8% negative predictive value.

Conclusions

ROP.AI is a deep learning algorithm able to automatically diagnose ROP plus disease with high sensitivity and negative predictive value.

Translational Relevance

In the context of increasing global disease burden, future development may improve access to ROP diagnosis and care.

Telemedicine for Retinopathy of Prematurity in 2020

Purpose:

Retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) is the leading cause of visual impairment in premature infants, and middle-income nations are currently experiencing the “third epidemic” of ROP. Screening programs are essential to prevent negative visual outcomes, but screening efforts require a great amount of resources from healthcare systems and are difficult to marshal, particularly in geographically isolated or resource-limited settings. Telemedical screening programs using remote digital fundus imaging (RDFI) systems hold the promise of alleviating many of the burdens that currently make screening for ROP logistically challenging.

Methods:

Literature review of the current evidence for RDFI telescreening for ROP, with editorial discussion and recommendations.

Results:

In this review, we summarize the robust body of literature regarding the efficacy of RDFI, the feasibility of telescreening programs, and experiences from current live telescreening programs. We discuss the strengths and limitations of the current evidence and of the screening programs and consider the best practices in developing de novo telemedical screening programs for ROP. The review concludes with a discussion of promising future areas of research and development.

Conclusions:

RDFI ROP screening programs can be accurate and reliable. They show promise in improving many current challenges in screening infants for ROP, may be able to improve some aspects of care, and have been demonstrated to be cost-effective.

The validity of telemedicine-based screening for retinopathy of prematurity in the Premature Eye Rescue Program in Hungary

PURPOSE

To assess the validity of wide-field digital imaging (WFDI) and telemedicine-based screening compared with examination by binocular indirect ophthalmoscopy (BIO) and to present some of the results from the first five years of telemedicine-based screening in the Premature Eye Rescue Program in Hungary.

METHODS

We performed a retrospective analysis in two periods that aimed to assess (a) the validity of retinal digital imaging and (b) routine bedside screening. The validity was assessed in two neonatal intensive care units (NICUs), one in the First Department of Paediatrics and the other in the Second Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Semmelweis University. The telemedicine-based WFDI (WFDI-TM) screening program was introduced in two phases. In the first phase (from 30 November 2009 to 8 August 2010), BIO and WFDI were performed by the same paediatric ophthalmologist (Group A). In the second phase (from 9 August 2010 to 29 March 2011), BIO was performed by the paediatric ophthalmologist, while retinal images were captured by a trained neonatal transport nurse practitioner (Group B). BIO screening was the reference method as a gold standard in both phases.

RESULTS

During the validity assessment period 634 examinations were performed in 153 preterm infants. Overall, 76 babies were screened in Group A and 80 were screened in Group B. We found lower sensitivity and specificity in cases of any ROP (sensitivity 86%, specificity 99%) compared with those of treatment-requiring retinopathy of prematurity (TR-ROP) (both sensitivity and specificity 100%).In the Premature Eye Rescue Program between 1April 2011 and 31 March 2016, we used WFDI in 3035 infants (4589 procedures). Over this five-year period, 100 (9.6%) infants were treated by laser, and no child who received care in any of the Semmelweis University NICUs became blind from ROP.

CONCLUSIONS

(a) WFDI-TM ROP screening is a useful and efficient approach, although it cannot completely replace BIO; (b) no ROP-related blindness developed among the screened preterm babies; and (c) WFDI-TM ROP screening can be implemented in the logistics of a neonatal emergency and ambulance team infrastructure with neonatal transport nurse practitioners as 'photographers'.

The role of retinal photography and telemedicine in ROP screening

Until advances in retinal imaging over recent decades, detection of retinopathy of prematurity requiring treatment depended largely on indirect ophthalmoscopy by ophthalmologists with experience in examination of low birth weight, often fragile infants. Recent studies have added to our understanding of the pros and cons of using this technology to provide timely care for the increasing number of infants at risk for ROP blindness worldwide.

Diagnostic Accuracy of Ophthalmoscopy vs Telemedicine in Examinations for Retinopathy of Prematurity

Importance

Examinations for retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) are typically performed using binocular indirect ophthalmoscopy. Telemedicine studies have traditionally assessed the accuracy of telemedicine compared with ophthalmoscopy as a criterion standard. However, it is not known whether ophthalmoscopy is truly more accurate than telemedicine.

Objective

To directly compare the accuracy and sensitivity of ophthalmoscopy vs telemedicine in diagnosing ROP using a consensus reference standard.

Design, Setting, and Participants

This multicenter prospective study conducted between July 1, 2011, and November 30, 2014, at 7 neonatal intensive care units and academic ophthalmology departments in the United States and Mexico included 281 premature infants who met the screening criteria for ROP.

Exposures

Each examination consisted of 1 eye undergoing binocular indirect ophthalmoscopy by an experienced clinician followed by remote image review of wide-angle fundus photographs by 3 independent telemedicine graders.

Main Outcomes and Measures

Results of both examination methods were combined into a consensus reference standard diagnosis. The agreement of both ophthalmoscopy and telemedicine was compared with this standard, using percentage agreement and weighted κ statistics.

Results

Among the 281 infants in the study (127 girls and 154 boys; mean [SD] gestational age, 27.1 [2.4] weeks), a total of 1553 eye examinations were classified using both ophthalmoscopy and telemedicine. Ophthalmoscopy and telemedicine each had similar sensitivity for zone I disease (78% [95% CI, 71%-84%] vs 78% [95% CI, 73%-83%]; P > .99 [n = 165]), plus disease (74% [95% CI, 61%-87%] vs 79% [95% CI, 72%-86%]; P = .41 [n = 50]), and type 2 ROP (stage 3, zone I, or plus disease: 86% [95% CI, 80%-92%] vs 79% [95% CI, 75%-83%]; P = .10 [n = 251]), but ophthalmoscopy was slightly more sensitive in identifying stage 3 disease (85% [95% CI, 79%-91%] vs 73% [95% CI, 67%-78%]; P = .004 [n = 136]).

Conclusions and Relevance

No difference was found in overall accuracy between ophthalmoscopy and telemedicine for the detection of clinically significant ROP, although, on average, ophthalmoscopy had slightly higher accuracy for the diagnosis of zone III and stage 3 ROP. With the caveat that there was variable accuracy between examiners using both modalities, these results support the use of telemedicine for the diagnosis of clinically significant ROP.

Smartphone guided wide-field imaging for retinopathy of prematurity in neonatal intensive care unit - a Smart ROP (SROP) initiative

Purpose

To suggest a low cost, non-contact smartphone-based screening system in retinopathy of prematurity (ROP), and to illustrate its potential clinical application as a potential future tool for teleophthalmology.

Methods

Neonatal intensive care unit (NICU)-based bedside ROP screening done between January 2018 and May 2018. Documentation of ROP was done by using a smartphone and +40D, +28D, or +20D indirect non-contact condensing lenses. By using the coaxial light source of the phone, this system works as an indirect ophthalmoscope that creates a digital image of the fundus. With smartphone-based camera we extracted high-quality still images extracted from the video clip.

Results

Total of 228 eyes of 114 infants screened for ROP between January 2018 and May 2018. Incidence of total ROP was 23.68%, out of which incidence of type 1 ROP was 8.77%. After initial screening with indirect ophthalmoscope, we uesd smartphone imaging to document ROP in 28 eyes out of 55 eyes having ROP. Image quality was good in 89.28% eyes. Field of view vary from 46°, 53°, and 90° with +20D, +28D, and +40D indirect condensing lenses, respectively, which gives excellent images for bedside ROP documentation.

Conclusion

The described technique of smartphone fundus photography is a light weight, cost-effective, user friendly, high-quality wide-field fundus photographs for bedside documentation of ROP in NICUs using readily available instruments that are handy and portable with simple power sources. Smartphones has the potential to be operated with only one hand. It can also be used as a future telescreening device.

Video interpretation and diagnosis of pediatric amblyopia and eye disease

AIM

The aim of this study was to assess the potential of using video screening to interpret the results of paediatric eye examinations.

DESIGN

Prospective multi-centred, blinded study.

METHODS

Children aged 5 months to 11 years referred to a paediatric ophthalmology centre were enrolled in the study. Outcome measures included the degree of agreement between examiners for assessment of various aspects of paediatric eye examination. In Phase 1, children were individually assessed in the clinic by three different examiners to determine the level of agreement. In Phase 2 a video recording was made of the first ophthalmologist examining the children. The other two examiners viewed the video recordings to make their diagnoses. Areas of assessment included lid function, pupillary function, ocular motility, strabismus, nystagmus, torticollis and facial asymmetry. Agreement between examiners was measured using Gwet's agreement coefficient (AC1).

RESULTS

A total of 27 patients in Phase 1 (mean age 4.0 years) and 160 children in Phase 2 (mean age 4.8 years) underwent clinical and video-recorded screening. In Phase 1, all but one area of ocular examination (heterotropia) achieved ≥84% agreement between three examiners. In Phase 2, there was greater variation between direct clinical examination and interpretation of video findings, ranging from 55-100% agreement.

CONCLUSION

Using experienced clinicians and changing only one variable in Phase 2 (the method of assessment - direct examination versus video interpretation), the results show the possible usefulness of video-recorded screening as a means of assessing children. Further research is indicated to assess the accuracy of ophthalmologists interpreting video recordings of eye examinations performed by trained non-eye-care professionals.

Evaluation of a Remote Telemedicine Screening System for Severe Retinopathy of Prematurity

PURPOSE

To evaluate the validity of remote telemedicine screening for retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) in a population of at-risk preterm infants in Iowa and South Dakota.

METHODS

The medical records for all preterm infants screened for ROP at neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) in Sioux City, Iowa, and Sioux Falls, South Dakota, from September 1, 2017, to July 31, 2018, were retrospectively reviewed. The RetCam Shuttle (Natus Medical Inc., Pleasanton, CA) was used to capture retinal images, which were posted on a secure server for evaluation by a pediatric ophthalmologist. Infants with suspected ROP approaching the criteria for treatment with anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) medications were transferred to the Children's Hospital and Medical Center NICU in Omaha, Nebraska, where a comprehensive examination was performed and treatment was administered when indicated. The remaining infants received an outpatient comprehensive examination by one of two pediatric ophthalmologists within 2 weeks of discharge.

RESULTS

A total of 124 telemedicine examinations were performed on 35 infants during the study period. Remote telemedicine screening for referral-warranted ROP using the RetCam Shuttle had a sensitivity of 100%, specificity of 97%, positive predictive value of 66.7%, and negative predictive value of 100%. Of the three infants transferred for referral-warranted ROP, two required treatment with anti-VEGF medications. Good outcomes were noted in all cases, and no patients progressed beyond stage 3 ROP.

CONCLUSIONS

Telemedicine screening reliably detected referral-warranted ROP in at-risk premature infants at two remote sites, with no poor outcomes during the 11-month period. These results demonstrate the validity and utility of remote telemedicine screening for ROP. [J Pediatr Ophthalmol Strabismus. 2019;56(3):157-161.].

A review of treatment for retinopathy of prematurity

Introduction

Retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) is a leading cause of childhood blindness worldwide.

Areas covered

Recent methods to identify and manage treatment-warranted vascularly active ROP are recognized and being compared to standard care by laser treatment in prospective large-scale clinical studies. Pharmacologic anti-angiogenic (anti-VEGF) treatment has changed the natural history of vascularly active ROP by reducing stage 3 intravitreal neovascularization and extending physiologic retinal vascularization in many infants. Tractional retinal detachments in stage 4 ROP after treatment with anti-VEGF agents show additional fibrovascular complexity compared to eyes treated with laser only. We review current management and outcomes for vascularly active and fibrovascular retinal detachment in ROP (stages 3, 4, 5 ROP), highlighting the evidence from recent clinical studies. Included are technical details important in surgery for retinal detachment in ROP. Literature searches were employed through PubMed.

Expert opinion

Methods in pediatric imaging, safer pharmacologic treatments, and surgical techniques continue to advance to improve future ROP outcomes.

A Novel, Low-Cost, Wide-Field, Infant Retinal Camera, "Neo": Technical and Safety Report for the Use on Premature Infants

Purpose

To report the technical aspects, systemic, and ocular safety of a novel, low-cost, wide-field, infant retinal camera for use on premature infants.

Methods

The device, the “3nethra Neo” (Neo) is a 120° portable, contact, wide-field, unibody camera, with a CMOS sensor (2040 × 2040 resolution) and a warm light-emitting diode (LED) illumination source. The Neo was used to image 140 awake, preterm infants between postmenstrual age (PMA) of 28 to 37 weeks, undergoing retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) screening. Baseline, ‘during procedure', at 5 minutes, and for 60 minutes postprocedure, readings of oxygen saturation and heart rate were recorded. The device design, optics, illumination, and software specifications were compared with the RetCam 3.

Results

Study defined bradycardia (9 infants, 6.4%), tachycardia (3 infants, 2.1%), and hypoxia (2 infants, 1.4%) were observed but there were no clinically significant systemic changes that required intervention during or following any of the study time intervals. There was a transient increase in heart rate by 9.68 (7.53–11.83; P < 0.0001) and marginal decrease in oxygen saturation (−1.94 [−1.60 to −2.28], P < 0.0001), which started to return to baseline 5 minutes after the procedure. Transient redness was seen in two eyes (0.7%) of two infants. No other ocular adverse effects were observed.

Conclusions

The Neo is easy to use in preterm infants and being compact was readily portable. There were no significant ocular or systemic adverse effects, potentially allowing it to be a viable low-cost device for ROP screening in low resource settings.

Translational Relevance

The camera provides a safe and affordable alternative to image the retina of infants by using novel illumination and lens mechanics and has the potential of worldwide acceptance.

The Accuracy of Digital Imaging in Diagnosis of Retinopathy of Prematurity in Iran: A Pilot Study

Purpose:

To evaluate sensitivity and specificity of digital retinal image reading in the diagnosis of referral-warranted retinopathy of prematurity (ROP).

Methods:

Infants referred to the ROP clinic underwent fundus examination through indirect ophthalmoscopy. Fundus photographs were acquired using RetCam (shuttle 2; Clarity medical systems, Pleasanton, CA, USA). Four retinal specialists who were blind to patients’ information reviewed the RetCam fundus photographs. By comparing the results of photographs’ readings with that of indirect ophthalmoscopy as the gold standard, the sensitivity and specificity of telescreening was determined.

Results:

A total of 147 treatment-naïve patients met the inclusion criteria and were enrolled in the study. Mean gestational age (GA) was 28.6 ± 2.0 weeks. Digital retinal imaging had sensitivity of 85% and specificity of 35% in detecting referral-warranted ROP in our study. Positive predictive value of digital photography was 80%, and negative predictive value was 43%.

Conclusion:

Digital photography for diagnosis of ROP may show good potential as a screening modality in developing countries. It can facilitate early diagnosis, prevent unnecessary referrals, and be implemented for investigational purpose. However, the overall study result did not provide evidence to propose digital photography as a substitute for indirect ophthalmoscopy in the diagnosis of ROP.

Imaging in Retinopathy of Prematurity

Retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) is a leading cause of preventable childhood blindness worldwide. Barriers to ROP screening and difficulties with subsequent evaluation and management include poor access to care, lack of physicians trained in ROP, and issues with objective documentation. Digital retinal imaging can help address these barriers and improve our knowledge of the pathophysiology of the disease. Advancements in technology have led to new, non-mydriatic and mydriatic cameras with wider fields of view as well as devices that can simultaneously incorporate fluorescein angiography, optical coherence tomography (OCT), and OCT angiography. Image analysis in ROP is also being employed through smartphones and computer-based software. Telemedicine programs in the United States and worldwide have utilized imaging to extend ROP screening to infants in remote areas and have shown that digital retinal imaging can be reliable, accurate, and cost-effective. In addition, tele-education programs are also using digital retinal images to increase the number of healthcare providers trained in ROP. Although indirect ophthalmoscopy is still an important skill for screening, digital retinal imaging holds promise for more widespread screening and management of ROP.

A Retrospective Analysis of the Timing of Initial Treatment of Bedside-Screened Versus Photographically Screened Eyes With Retinopathy of Prematurity

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE

A retrospective clinical study was performed to assess whether photographically screened and remotely read images for retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) allowed for timely and accurate diagnosis of treatment-warranted ROP compared to bedside examination.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

The study included 130 eyes of 65 premature neonates in born at William Beaumont Hospital, Royal Oak NICU. Bedside examined (2006 to 2010) and telemedicine screened (2010 to 2014) neonates were compared to identify whether there is a statistical difference in postmenstrual age (PMA) at the time of treatment.

RESULTS

One hundred thirty eyes of 65 infants met the inclusion and exclusion criteria. Thirty-five infants who needed laser treatment were screened bedside with an average PMA at treatment of 36.5 weeks. Thirty infants who needed treatment were photographically screened, with an average PMA at treatment of 36.4 weeks. Neither group had statistically different PMAs (P = .58).

CONCLUSION

This study confirms that telemedicine also allows for appropriately timed treatment for early ROP. [Ophthalmic Surg Lasers Imaging Retina. 2018;49:e32-e35.].

Systemic Solutions in Retinopathy of Prematurity

PURPOSE

To describe a framework for screening and treatment of retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) using telemedicine screening with laser and/or vascular endothelial growth factor inhibitor treatment strategies.

DESIGN

Literature review and perspective.

METHODS

Review of the literature and the author's experience.

RESULTS

Undetermined.

CONCLUSIONS

Telemedicine can be deployed on a national basis to provide quaternary-level screening for ROP. At-risk patients for treatment could then be directed to receive either laser photocoagulation or vascular endothelial growth factor inhibitor intravitreal injections followed at a later time by examination under anesthesia, fluorescein angiography, and diode laser photocoagulation as indicated.

A national telemedicine network for retinopathy of prematurity screening

PURPOSE

To report the results of retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) screening by a telemedicine system in Chile and evaluate its usefulness for referring patients who require treatment.

METHODS

Premature infants at risk of developing ROP from 11 neonatal intensive care units were included. Screening was performed on all infants born at a gestational age of <32 weeks and/or birth weight of <1500 g. A trained nonphysician operator used an imaging system to capture retinal images, which were reviewed by two independent ROP experts. All infants that required treatment were referred for further evaluation.

RESULTS

The study included 2,048 eyes of 1,024 premature infants. Mean gestational age was 28.8 ± 2.2 weeks, and mean birth weight was 1128 ± 279 g. A total of 5,263 telemedicine examinations were performed and reported. The average number of image sets per patient was 2.6 ± 2.5. Of the 5,263 images, 4,903 (93%) were recorded to at least the end of zone II; 5,172 (98%) were graded as having good quality, allowing for staging of ROP disease. Forty-two infants (4%) were referred for treatment. Discharged patients with ROP type 2 that regressed did not present with any complications or adverse effects during 6 months' follow-up.

CONCLUSIONS

Our study demonstrates the utility of telemedicine screening for ROP with ophthalmologist readers in a developing country. Telemedicine screening was able to detect treatment-requiring ROP. Most of the images had good quality and showed the end of zone II, two variables sufficient to discharge patients.

Retinal Telemedicine

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

An update and overview of the literature on current telemedicine applications in retina.

RECENT FINDINGS

The application of telemedicine to the field of Ophthalmology and Retina has been growing with advancing technologies in ophthalmic imaging. Retinal telemedicine has been most commonly applied to diabetic retinopathy and retinopathy of prematurity in adult and pediatric patients respectively. Telemedicine has the potential to alleviate the growing demand for clinical evaluation of retinal diseases. Subsequently, automated image analysis and deep learning systems may facilitate efficient processing of large, increasing numbers of images generated in telemedicine systems. Telemedicine may additionally improve access to education and standardized training through tele-education systems.

SUMMARY

Telemedicine has the potential to be utilized as a useful adjunct but not a complete replacement for physical clinical examinations. Retinal telemedicine programs should be carefully and appropriately integrated into current clinical systems.