Clinical Innovation in Ophthalmic Diagnosis & Treatment

Objective

Develop creative, scalable solutions to improve the accuracy, efficiency, and accessibility of clinical diagnosis and treatment in ophthalmology.

Presentation Prompts for teams:

1. Early Detection of Pediatric Eye Diseases
   Problem Statement: Children with eye diseases such as congenital cataracts, retinoblastoma, and amblyopia often go undiagnosed until irreversible damage has occurred. Design a solution that enables earlier detection of pediatric eye diseases in low-resource or underserved settings, leveraging community-based screening, digital tools, or novel diagnostic pathways.
2. Innovative Approaches to Glaucoma Monitoring
   Problem Statement: Glaucoma requires lifelong monitoring, but many patients lack access to regular intraocular pressure checks and optic nerve assessments. Develop an innovative, cost-effective approach to glaucoma monitoring that can be deployed in community clinics or via remote care, ensuring timely detection of disease progression.
3. Improving Cataract Surgical Outcomes in Low-Resource Settings
   Problem Statement: Despite being a treatable cause of blindness, cataract surgery outcomes in low-resource settings are often compromised by poor pre-operative assessments, surgical technique variability, and limited post-op care. Propose a system or tool that improves surgical outcomes through better patient selection, intraoperative support, or post-operative follow-up.
4. AI-Powered Screening for Diabetic Retinopathy
   Problem Statement: Diabetic retinopathy screening is limited by specialist availability and infrastructure. Create an AI-powered screening solution that can be used by non-specialist providers to identify referable diabetic retinopathy, ensuring accuracy, scalability, and ethical use in diverse clinical environments.
5. Portable Diagnostic Tools for Remote Eye Care
   Problem Statement: Remote and rural communities often lack access to basic eye diagnostics like slit-lamp exams, fundus imaging, and visual acuity testing. Design and/or identify a portable, user-friendly diagnostic tool or kit that enables frontline health workers to perform essential eye exams and refer patients appropriately.
6. Enhancing Post-Operative Follow-Up and Patient Adherence
   Problem Statement: Post-operative follow-up is critical for preventing complications and ensuring visual recovery, yet many patients do not return for care due to distance, cost, or lack of understanding. Develop a solution that improves patient adherence to post-operative eye care, using behavioral nudges, mobile health, or community-based support.
7. Solutions for Managing Retinopathy of Prematurity (ROP)
   Problem Statement: ROP is a leading cause of childhood blindness, especially in premature infants in low-resource neonatal units. Propose a system that enables timely screening, diagnosis, and treatment of ROP, integrating neonatal care teams, telemedicine, and scalable treatment protocols specifically in Sub-Saharan Africa.
8. Improving Access to Refractive Error Services
   Problem Statement: Uncorrected refractive errors are the most common cause of visual impairment globally, yet access to affordable glasses and refraction services remains limited. Design a solution that expands access to refractive services, particularly for school-aged children and working adults in underserved, rural/remote areas.
9. Clinical Decision Support Systems for Triage in Eye Emergencies
   Problem Statement: Eye emergencies such as trauma, acute angle-closure glaucoma, and retinal detachment require rapid triage and referral. Develop a clinical decision support tool that helps non-specialist providers identify and prioritize eye emergencies for timely intervention.
10. Strengthening Pediatric Eye Health Through School-Based Screening and Referral Systems
    Problem Statement: Children in underserved communities often face delayed diagnosis and treatment of eye conditions due to limited access to pediatric eye care specialists and fragmented referral systems. Design a scalable solution—such as a community-based model, digital tool, or integrated care pathway—that improves early identification, referral, and follow-up for pediatric eye conditions, especially in low-resource settings.