Irish surgeon's app can detect changes in the eye that could indicate brain tumours and prevent blindness

SightTrack, one of ophthalmic surgeon Dr Kate Coleman’s apps, can detect in seconds any slight changes in the pattern of blood vessels in the optic nerve in the centre of each person’s eye.

An Irish surgeon has developed apps that can verify a person’s age or detect changes in the eyes that may indicate conditions such as brain tumours or irreversible blindness.

Glaucoma is not usually detected until a person has already lost up to about 25% of their eyesight. In general, this and other undetected eye conditions can cause irreversible blindness in less than 10 years, despite being preventable.

But SightTrack, one of ophthalmic surgeon Dr Kate Coleman’s apps, can detect in seconds any slight changes in the pattern of blood vessels in the optic nerve in the centre of each person’s eye.

Once changes are spotted, a more detailed review of a person’s eyesight by eye specialists like optometrists or ophthalmologists would then be undertaken to find out why the pattern changed.

This further examination could lead to the diagnosis of more serious conditions, like so-called “silent sight loss”. This could be from conditions that usually develop very gradually and also include cataracts, which can all lead to blindness if untreated.

Other conditions, like diabetes, hypertension, brain tumours, cancer or a risk of stroke can also be picked up in a detailed eye examination by a specialist.

SightTrack uses artificial intelligence (AI) to examine photographs of a person’s retina.

While these are generally done by an ophthalmologist using an ophthalmoscope, advances in technology now mean they can also be done by most high street chemists or opticians.

Once the retinal photo is uploaded into the app, a further retinal photo - taken maybe two years later - is then compared against it.

AI is used to spot if there have been any changes in the blood vessel pattern in the optic nerve, which transmits sight from the retina to the brain.

There may well be no changes, but the idea is that a person should keep updating their retinal photo and keep comparing the two most recent images.

While pricing has yet to be agreed, and various partners brought on board, Ms Coleman believes each image should not cost more than “around” €10-€15.

“The app is not a diagnostic tool, “ Ms Coleman, who is based at Dublin’s Blackrock Clinic, said.

“Instead, this is an early warning system that can alert a person to the fact that something might be wrong.

“The app is a very simple, cheap and effective way of seeing if, over time, there are any changes to your retinal pattern.

“Because it is based on a person’s retinal pattern, it can also be used to verify someone’s age using another app I have created, called iKeyAGE.” 

That app also uses AI to examine photographs of a person’s retina.

Ms Coleman, who set up the Right to Sight charity in Africa in 2006 to help eradicate curable blindness, said the inspiration behind both apps was a leaf.

“I got the idea when I was out in the garden one day and realised the veins of every leaf are original,” she said.

“At the same time I suddenly remembered that - of course - the pattern on the retinal nerve of each eye is also completely original.

“I started thinking about what if you could use that uniqueness not only to help people with their eyes but also with identification.

“After all, it is acknowledged that the colored part of your eye, the iris, that's used as a biometric, is very easy to steal, anybody can photograph it and it's not as original.

“The optic nerve pattern in each of a person’s two eyes is completely unique.

“You can tell so much from an analysis of that pattern, and one of the things such analysis does is detect a person’s age.” 

Her plan is that SightTrack will be widely available to people who want to keep regular tabs on their eye health.

She is also hoping iKeyAGE will be incorporated into whatever version of the European Digital Identity Wallet that Ireland decides.

Due to be issued by all EU member states in the form of apps, they will allow people to ID themselves from stored data, including official ID documents like passports and driving licences.

The QR code from Ms Coleman’s iKey app can also be used in such digital wallets, which each member state is supposed to be able to offer by the end of the year.