Technology News

Did you know a computer can diagnose melanoma better than a board-certified dermatologist? Trained by machinery and artificial intelligence, a computerized camera system at Stanford University in a recent study accurately identified 72% of photographed cutaneous melanomas compared with only 66% accuracy by a group of board-certified dermatologists. And that’s just a first-generation computer system. In ophthalmology, computerized systems are already screening retinal fundus photographs of patients with diabetes to identify early-stage retinopathy and stratify risk for further examination. Other examples of automation will surely arise, and if we’re really serious about improving patients’ lives, we should reach for some of the “low-hanging fruit” — benefits we can achieve through simple computer automation.

SAN FRANCISCO ― At the Glaucoma 360: New Horizons Forum, Jeffrey L. Goldberg, MD, PhD, professor and chair of ophthalmology at the Byers Eye Institute at Stanford University, discusses new glaucoma therapies that show promise to not only lower IOP but also provide neuroprotection.

Historically, ophthalmologists have used optical biometry primarily for the purpose of IOL calculation by obtaining corneal and axial length measurements. Today, with new technology, optical biometry has the potential to provide more than just verifying measurements. It now offers an advantage to physicians by enabling them to identify certain macular pathologies that are, oftentimes, not easily detectable on our slit lamp examination.

In this issue of OSN, our cover story explores “heads-up surgery” — the use of cameras and 3-D monitors to visualize surgery instead of a traditional optical microscope.

Digitally assisted surgery may be the next revolutionary step that makes surgeons move away from the oculars of the operating microscope, opening up a world of new opportunities.

Point

I was first introduced to ophthalmology as a second-year medical student at the University of Minnesota in 1970. During my 6-week rotation I was exposed to the cornea/cataract/glaucoma, retina, pediatric ophthalmology/plastic surgery and neuro-ophthalmology subspecialists at the university medical center. At that time, only patients referred by an ophthalmologist were accepted by the university physicians. This made it a tertiary referral center in the truest sense. During medical school I also took the time to visit several private practice ophthalmologists and gain insight into the private sector of ophthalmology. I fell in love with ophthalmology after those rotations and a later opportunity to work in the research laboratory and clinic of Donald J. Doughman, MD, a newly minted corneal/anterior segment specialist from Harvard. As amazing as it may seem to the younger ophthalmologist of today, patients at that time were admitted to the hospital for 4 to 7 days after cataract surgery, and after corneal transplants, mostly penetrating keratoplasty, for 7 to 10 days.

NEWPORT BEACH Calif. — Bill Carpou, CEO of OCTANe, discusses the annual Medical Technology Innovation Forum, including how the meeting has grown and how the quality of companies participating is improving.

NEWPORT BEACH, Calif. — Dipu Ghosh, MSEE, MBA, CEO of Hepatiq, discusses at OCTANe’s Medical Technology Innovation Forum the company’s liver functionality test, the only FDA-cleared product that measures liver function instead of fibrosis.

NEWPORT BEACH, Calif. — In opening remarks at OCTANe’s Medical Technology Innovation Forum, Bill Carpou, CEO of OCTANe, discussed the successes achieved so far and laid out the group’s mission for growth, called Vision 2025.