Improving cataract surgery in India through Deep Learning-based smartphone video analysis, India\r
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The Department of Ophthalmology at the University Eye Hospital Bonn and Sankara Eye Foundation have improved ophthalmology in India since 2006 through diverse projects. With their current project, they are optimising the results of cataract surgery for small-incision cataract surgery (SICS) at the Sankara Eye Hospitals in India. To this end, they use an innovative Deep Learning artificial intelligence (AI) algorithm for automatic analysis of SICS videos. AI is trained to analyse smartphone-based surgery videos for surgical performance and intraoperative complications, which supports reflection, training and the identification of deficits. \r
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Background information\r
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In low- and middle-income countries in particular, cataract is the most common reason for blindness and severe visual impairment. Worldwide, 79 million people are affected by the condition. Each year more than 30 million cataract operations are performed. In India, up to 50 per cent of bilateral blindness is attributed to cataract. Against this backdrop, the cataract treatment continues to be an important challenge.\r
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Activities\r
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•\tCommenting on SICS videos and comparing image quality of conventional and smartphone-assisted surgery videos\r
•\tDeveloping, implementing and evaluating an AI algorithm\r
•\tAnalysing user acceptance and improving surgical results by means of the automatic SICS video analysis and identifying possible future improvements to the algorithm\r
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Results \r
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At least 800 videos (based on conventional and smartphone-based imaging systems) are commented on, applying high quality standards. The AI algorithm recognises at least 80 per cent of surgical instruments and phases, as well as intraoperative complications. \r
At SEF and the Bonn Department of Ophthalmology, the project strengthens training, research and management skills. Establishing a smartphone-based surgery video recording and analysis enables telemetric surgical surveillance and pedagogical feedback for other surgical procedures apart from SICS at the Sankara Eye Hospitals. The project also strengthens digitalisation, which enables processes in surgical training to be optimised and better long-term surgical technical results to be achieved for the patients at the Sankara Eye Hospitals. \r