Two-day conference brought together retina specialists from all over the U.S.
The Emory Eye Center's 35th annual Southeastern Vitreoretinal (SEVR) conference wrapped up on March 25, after providing two days of insightful case analyses and thought-provoking discussions of new diagnostic and treatment approaches.
Highlighting the 2023 event was the Paul Sternberg, Jr. lecture, Big Data and AI Application in Ophthalmology
which was delivered jointly by Emory Eye Center alumna Cecilia Lee, MD, MS, and her colleague (and husband) Aaron Lee, MD, MSc.
Conference organizer Dr. Ghazala Datoo O'Keefe praised the two University of Washington researchers for investigating the employment of artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning (ML), deep learning (DL) and data science (DS) to improve the diagnosis of eye disorders, in particular diabetic retinopathy and macular degeneration.
One of the problems diagnosing diabetic retinopathy and macular degeneration in many parts of this country and the world is that many people don't have direct access to an ophthalmologist who can make the diagnosis,
said O'Keefe.
“What the Lees are pointing out is that with the application of artificial intelligence, we can take photos [or OCT scans], and a machine can identify findings consistent with diabetic retinopathy [or macular degeneration] to aid in referrals. “
O'Keefe also hailed the Lee's advocacy for establishing a system of open access to clinical data which will allow researchers across the world access to a balanced data set.
“Right now, getting access to certain data sets can be very expensive, which limits research to those who already have funding mechanisms in place,
she said. But if anyone who wanted to study these diseases could have unrestricted access to data sets that are balanced between age, race and severity of disease, the pace of research could be unparalleled.
Among the more than 60 attendees at this year's conference were ophthalmologists from as far away as Texas, Colorado, and California, as well as several former fellows of the Emory Eye Center program.
Mark your calendars now Next year's SEVR will be held on March 22-23, 2024.
-Kathleen E. Moore