Portable hardware & software technologies for addressing ophthalmic health disparities: A systematic review

Margarita Labkovich, Megan Paul, Eliott Kim, Randal A. Serafini, Shreyas Lakhtakia, Aly A. Valliani, Andrew J. Warburton, Aashay Patel, Davis Zhou, Bonnie Sklar, James Chelnis, Ebrahim Elahi

Research output: Contribution to journalReview articlepeer-review

9 Scopus citations

Abstract

Vision impairment continues to be a major global problem, as the WHO estimates 2.2 billion people struggling with vision loss or blindness. One billion of these cases, however, can be prevented by expanding diagnostic capabilities. Direct global healthcare costs associated with these conditions totaled $255 billion in 2010, with a rapid upward projection to $294 billion in 2020. Accordingly, WHO proposed 2030 targets to enhance integration and patient-centered vision care by expanding refractive error and cataract worldwide coverage. Due to the limitations in cost and portability of adapted vision screening models, there is a clear need for new, more accessible vision testing tools in vision care. This comparative, systematic review highlights the need for new ophthalmic equipment and approaches while looking at existing and emerging technologies that could expand the capacity for disease identification and access to diagnostic tools. Specifically, the review focuses on portable hardware- and software-centered strategies that can be deployed in remote locations for detection of ophthalmic conditions and refractive error. Advancements in portable hardware, automated software screening tools, and big data-centric analytics, including machine learning, may provide an avenue for improving ophthalmic healthcare.

Original languageEnglish
JournalDigital Health
Volume8
DOIs
StatePublished - 2022

Keywords

  • Portable
  • blindness
  • chronic disease, vision screening, eye exams, global health, eyecare access
  • digital health
  • machine learning
  • prevention
  • vision

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