Quantitative analysis of optic disc changes in school-age children with ametropia based on artificial intelligence
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Published on: March 17, 2023
Fang Liu1, Xing-Hui Yu1, Yu-Chuan Wang1
1The First Clinical Medical College of Gannan Medical University, Ganzhou 341000, Jiangxi Province, China.
Insights
Artificial intelligence and color fundus photography reveal optic disc and peripapillary atrophy (PPA) changes in children with myopia. The PPA area ratio predicts myopia progression, aiding in early prevention and management.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Medical Imaging
- Artificial Intelligence in Healthcare
Background:
- Myopia is a growing public health concern in school-aged children.
- Optic disc and peripapillary atrophy (PPA) changes are associated with refractive errors.
- Early detection of myopia progression is crucial for effective management.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate optic disc and PPA alterations in ametropic children using color fundus photography and AI.
- To correlate these changes with refractive error severity and axial length.
- To evaluate the potential of PPA metrics as early predictors of myopia progression.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective case-controlled study of 113 children (6-12 years old).
- Children classified into four groups: low, moderate, high myopia, and emmetropia control.
- Color fundus photography analyzed using AI, with measurements including PPA width, optic disc diameter ratios, and neuroretinal rim width.
Main Results:
- Significant differences in PPA width, PPA-to-optic disc diameter and area ratios were observed across the groups (P<0.05).
- High myopia group showed significant differences in neuroretinal rim width, optic disc roundness, PPA height, and PPA density compared to other groups (P<0.05).
- Strong negative correlation between spherical equivalent (SE) and PPA area ratio (r=-0.812, P<0.001); strong positive correlation between axial length (AL) and PPA area ratio (r=0.736, P<0.001).
Conclusions:
- School-age children with high myopia exhibit narrowed or lost nasal and temporal neuroretinal rims, indicating high sensitivity.
- The PPA area ratio serves as a significant early predictor for myopia progression.
- These findings are vital for the developmental prevention and management strategies for myopia.
Aim:
To explore changes in the optic disc and peripapillary atrophy (PPA) in school-age children with ametropia using color fundus photography combined with artificial intelligence (AI) technology.
Methods:
Based on the retrospective case-controlled study, 226 eyes of 113 children aged aged 6-12y were enrolled from October 2021 to May 2022. According to the results of spherical equivalent (SE), the children were divided into four groups: low myopia group (66 eyes), moderate myopia group (60 eyes), high myopia group (50 eyes) and emmetropia control group (50 eyes). All subjects underwent un-aided visual acuity, dilated pupil optometry, best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), intraocular pressure, ocular axis measurement and color fundus photography.
Results:
The width of PPA, horizontal diameter ratio of PPA to the optic disc and area ratio of PPA to the optic disc were significantly different among the four groups (P<0.05). The width of the nasal and temporal neuroretinal rim, the roundness of the optic disc, the height of PPA, the vertical diameter ratio of PPA to the optic disc, and the average density of PPA in the high myopia group were significantly different compared with the other three groups (P<0.05). There were strong negative correlations between SE and area ratio of PPA to the optic disc (r=-0.812, P<0.001) and strong positive correlation between axial length (AL) and area ratio of PPA to the optic disc (r=0.736, P<0.001).
Conclusion:
In school-age children with high myopia, the nasal and temporal neuroretinal rims are narrowed and even lost, which have high sensitivity. The area ratio of the PPA to the optic disc could be used as an early predictor of myopia progression, which is of great significance for the development prevention and management of myopia.
