Glaucoma Screening Using Artificial Intelligence Assisted Clinical Model in Singapore's Diabetic Eye Screening Program (AIGS)

Singapore Eye Research Institute

Status: Enrolling

Conditions: Glaucoma

Treatments: Other: No intervention; Diagnostic Test: Artificial Intelligence model to detect glaucoma

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT07243665

ECOS Ref: 2024-3461

MOH-OFLCG21jun-0003 (Other Grant/Funding Number)

Details and patient eligibility

About

Glaucoma is major cause of irreversible blindness and is characterized by optic nerve damage and visual field loss. Screening for glaucoma is challenging due to lack of a simple, accurate, cost-efficient and standardized process. Artificial intelligence, (AI) especially deep learning (DL) algorithms have potential to automate glaucoma detection, but have to be evaluated in real world settings, before public deployment. This study aims to evaluate the screening accuracy of a DL algorithm for glaucoma detection using colour fundus photographs (CFP) in a pragmatic randomised control trial (RCT). The algorithm will be tested in 1040 eligible patients with diabetes, recruited from the Diabetes & Metabolism Centre's clinics under the Singapore Integrated Diabetic Retinopathy Program (SiDRP) and randomized to 2 arms: AI-assisted model vs current standard of care (grader assessment). The performance of both arms will be compared to performance of study ophthalmologist in diagnosing glaucoma. We hypothesize that the DL model has better screening performance in detecting glaucoma in the community, compared to the current practice method.

Full description

Background: Glaucoma is the leading cause of irreversible blindness worldwide, characterized by optic nerve damage and visual field loss. Screening for glaucoma remains challenging due to lack of a simple, standardized, and cost-effective test. Artificial intelligence (AI), especially deep learning (DL), offers potential to improve and standardize glaucoma detection. However, its performance must be prospectively validated in real-world settings before public deployment.

Aim: To evaluate the accuracy and cost-effectiveness of a DL algorithm using colour fundus photographs (CFP) as a clinical decision support tool for glaucoma detection in a real-world setting.

Methods: A two-centre, single-blind, pragmatic randomized controlled trial (RCT) will be conducted among 1,040 adults with diabetes recruited from the Diabetes & Metabolism Centre (DMC) and SingHealth Polyclinics-Bukit Merah under the Singapore Integrated Diabetic Retinopathy Programme (SiDRP). After fundus imaging, participants will be randomized 1:1 to AI-assisted grading or current manual grading by graders at the SiDRP reading center (520 subjects per arm). Diagnostic performance will be compared against the gold-standard glaucoma diagnosis, determined via comprehensive ocular examination including intraocular pressure measurement, visual field testing, optical coherence tomography, and dilated fundus assessment. Cost-effectiveness will be evaluated using a cohort-based Markov model to estimate lifetime costs and incremental cost-effectiveness ratios (ICERs) of the two glaucoma screening strategies.

Clinical Significance: Integrating AI into glaucoma screening can address resource constraints and streamline detection. This study will provide real-world evidence on the accuracy and cost-effectiveness of AI-based screening. If validated, it could be integrated into national screening programs to enhance early detection, reduce unnecessary referrals, and prevent avoidable blindness through a cost-efficient, scalable approach.

Enrollment: 1,040 estimated patients

Sex: All

Ages: 21+ years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion and exclusion criteria

Inclusion Criteria: We aim to recruit all eligible patients who attend Singapore General Hospital (SGH) Diabetes & Metabolism Centre's (DMC) clinics and SingHealth Polyclinics (SHP)-Bukit Merah under the Singapore Integrated Diabetic Retinopathy Programme (SiDRP). Patients are eligible for the study if

1. Aged 21 years old and above, with diabetes, including type 1 and type 2,
2. Retinal photos of the patients can be taken with the fundus camera in the clinics, regardless of photos' quality, and
3. They are willing and capable of providing a written informed consent form.

Exclusion Criteria: Patients meeting any of the exclusion criteria will be excluded from participation:

1. Patients who have difficulty in having retinal photos taken or have difficulties in completing the ocular examination protocols according to investigator's decision.

2. Any other contraindication(s) as indicated by the endocrinologists responsible for the patients.

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Trial design

Primary purpose: Diagnostic

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: Single Blind

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1,040 participants in 2 patient groups, including a placebo group

Artificial Intelligence Assisted Arm

Active Comparator group

Description:

In this arm, human graders will review fundus photographs for glaucomatous features with the aid of output generated by an AI model trained to detect glaucoma. The AI output will be available during grading to support decision-making.

Treatment:

Diagnostic Test: Artificial Intelligence model to detect glaucoma

Current practice arm

Placebo Comparator group

Description:

Graders will assess fundus photographs for glaucoma following standard clinical practice, using a pre-specified and established set of diagnostic criteria without access to AI-generated outputs.

Treatment:

Other: No intervention