Automated Identification of Different Severity Levels of Diabetic Retinopathy Using a Handheld Fundus Camera and Single-Image Protocol

Purpose

To evaluate the performance of artificial intelligence (AI) systems embedded in a mobile, handheld retinal camera, with a single retinal image protocol, in detecting both diabetic retinopathy (DR) and more-than-mild diabetic retinopathy (mtmDR).

Design

Multicenter cross-sectional diagnostic study, conducted at 3 diabetes care and eye care facilities.

Participants

A total of 327 individuals with diabetes mellitus (type 1 or type 2) underwent a retinal imaging protocol enabling expert reading and automated analysis.

Methods

Participants underwent fundus photographs using a portable retinal camera (Phelcom Eyer). The captured images were automatically analyzed by deep learning algorithms retinal alteration score (RAS) and diabetic retinopathy alteration score (DRAS), consisting of convolutional neural networks trained on EyePACS data sets and fine-tuned using data sets of portable device fundus images. The ground truth was the classification of DR corresponding to adjudicated expert reading, performed by 3 certified ophthalmologists.

Main Outcome Measures

Primary outcome measures included the sensitivity and specificity of the AI system in detecting DR and/or mtmDR using a single-field, macula-centered fundus photograph for each eye, compared with a rigorous clinical reference standard comprising the reading center grading of 2-field imaging protocol using the International Classification of Diabetic Retinopathy severity scale.

Results

Of 327 analyzed patients (mean age, 57.0 ± 16.8 years; mean diabetes duration, 16.3 ± 9.7 years), 307 completed the study protocol. Sensitivity and specificity of the AI system were high in detecting any DR with DRAS (sensitivity, 90.48% [95% confidence interval (CI), 84.99%–94.46%]; specificity, 90.65% [95% CI, 84.54%–94.93%]) and mtmDR with the combination of RAS and DRAS (sensitivity, 90.23% [95% CI, 83.87%–94.69%]; specificity, 85.06% [95% CI, 78.88%–90.00%]). The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve was 0.95 for any DR and 0.89 for mtmDR.

Conclusions

This study showed a high accuracy for the detection of DR in different levels of severity with a single retinal photo per eye in an all-in-one solution, composed of a portable retinal camera powered by AI. Such a strategy holds great potential for increasing coverage rates of screening programs, contributing to prevention of avoidable blindness.

Financial Disclosure(s)

F.K.M. is a medical consultant for Phelcom Technologies. J.A.S. is Chief Executive Officer and proprietary of Phelcom Technologies. D.L. is Chief Technology Officer and proprietary of Phelcom Technologies. P.V.P. is an employee at Phelcom Technologies.