Microsoft, the major multinational technology company, has joined hands with the Hyderabad-based LV Prasad eye institute to launch Microsoft Intelligent Network for Eye care (MINE) that uses machine learning and artificial intelligence tools to improve efficiency of eye care and help eradicate preventive blindness.
Other global partners such as the Bascom Palmer - University of Miami, Flaum Eye Institute - University of Rochester (USA), Federal University of Sao Paulo (Brazil) and Brien Holden Vision Institute (Australia) are also part of the initiative to apply artificial intelligence to help eliminate of avoidable blindness and scale up delivery of eye care services worldwide.
This is to be a collective effort on diverse datasets of patients across geographies to come up with machine learning predictive models for vision impairment and eye disease. This will include the rate of change of myopia in children, conditions that impact children’s eyesight, predictive outcomes of refractive surgery, optimal surgery parameters as well as ways to personalise a surgery and maximize its probability of success.
The idea behind MINE initiative is to use large amounts of data gathered by these specialist organisations to create databases that can then be intelligently analysed through artificial intelligence modules developed around eye care. This will help identify key areas where intervention can be applied to good effect.
MINE will help redefine eye care by bringing together the power of technology and knowledge of global experts. MINE will used the combined power of data, cloud and advanced analytics for the public good.
India accounts for nearly 55 million of the 285 million eye disease cases worldwide and one of the reasons why Microsoft piloted the initiative in India. Microsoft's tie up with Hyderabad based LV Prasad Eye Institute and other global institutes will help address several other critical eye diseases.
