Microsoft collaboration to use AI to improve eye care

LV Prasad Eye Institute (LVPEI) in India has collaborated with Microsoft to launch the Microsoft Intelligent Network for Eyecare (MINE), a consortium of international commercial, research and academic institutions dedicated to using artificial intelligence to help eliminate preventable blindness and improve eye care services.

In addition to LVPEI, Bascom Palmer Eye Institute, Flaum Eye Institute, Federal University of Sao Paulo and the Brien Holden Vision Institute in Australia have joined as partners

Earlier this year, LVPEI began using Microsoft Azure Machine Learning and Power BI to analyze more than 1.1 million patient records and find patterns within the data.

The consortium will work collectively on diverse patient datasets using the Cortana Intelligence Suite, a cloud platform technology, to improve the predictive models for vision impairment and eye disease. Areas of focus include the rate of change of myopia in children, conditions impacting children’s eyesight, predictive outcomes of refractive surgery and personalizing surgery parameters to improve outcomes for each patient.

“MINE, a global collaboration, reinforces Microsoft’s belief in the combined power of data, cloud and advanced analytics to drive public good,” said Anil Bhansali, Managing Director, Microsoft India (R&D). “In our shared vision to eradicate preventive blindness, MINE will help redefine eye care by bringing together the power of technology and knowledge of global experts.”