Short sightedness (myopia) is one of the commonest eye conditions and by 2050, nearly 5 billion people will be affected. Most people think of myopia as a condition which needs correction with glasses or contact lenses. But in later life, myopia can lead to a range of complications which can leave the worst affected with significant loss of vision. In the over 75-year-old bracket, complications of myopia is the fourth commonest cause of vision impairment.
The main aim of this research is to develop a computerized system that provides eye care professionals with an early warning system of eyes that are at most risk of developing vision impairment due to myopia.
The duration of this project will be 3 years and it will be used towards my qualification for a PhD. The expected impact of this project will be to add new knowledge to the domain on detecting possible early signs of myopia using retinal images to help clinicians with the management of the disease.
In terms of public health impact, this project is designed to provide early detection of eyes that are of risk of vision loss due to the complications and help us to develop new treatments to keep short sighted eyes healthier as we age and prevent vision impairment in later life.
