An international investigation has developed an artificial intelligence system capable of predicting the future progression of glaucoma from a simple photograph of the eye taken during the first consultation. This innovative approach enables the early and non-invasive identification of patients at higher risk of disease progression.
Glaucoma is a silent and progressive disease of the optic nerve, the structure that connects the eye to the brain and carries the images we see. The main risk factor is increased intraocular pressure, which, if left untreated, destroys the cells responsible for vision, leading to irreversible blindness. In Portugal, it is estimated that approximately 250,000 people are affected by the disease.
The international research team included João Barbosa Breda, a professor at the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Porto, whose work contributes to advances in the diagnosis and monitoring of this condition, which represents one of the leading causes of preventable blindness worldwide.
