Effectiveness of smartphone technology for detection of paediatric ocular diseases—a systematic review

Abstract Background Artificial intelligence has become part of healthcare with a multitude of applications being customized to roles required in clinical practice. There has been an expanding growth and development of computer technology with increasing appearance in the ophthalmological universe wi...

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Main Authors: Sruthi Vijendran, Yash Alok, Neetha I. R. Kuzhuppilly, Jayasheela R. Bhat, Yogish S. Kamath
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2025-05-01
Series:BMC Ophthalmology
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s12886-025-04160-2
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author Sruthi Vijendran
Yash Alok
Neetha I. R. Kuzhuppilly
Jayasheela R. Bhat
Yogish S. Kamath
author_facet Sruthi Vijendran
Yash Alok
Neetha I. R. Kuzhuppilly
Jayasheela R. Bhat
Yogish S. Kamath
author_sort Sruthi Vijendran
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Background Artificial intelligence has become part of healthcare with a multitude of applications being customized to roles required in clinical practice. There has been an expanding growth and development of computer technology with increasing appearance in the ophthalmological universe with roles in detection of most ophthalmic diseases. This article attempts to study the efficacy of smartphones and their applications in detection of paediatric eye diseases. Methods On 24 January 2024, a comprehensive search was performed across five databases—PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature, and ProQuest—focusing on studies assessing smartphone-based disease detection and diagnostic accuracy compared to validated methods. Keywords and MeSH terms, including "smartphone," "eye diseases," and "children," were combined using Boolean operators and eligible studies were obtained. The inclusion criteria covered studies from 2000 to 2023, involving children under 18 years, and reporting diagnostic outcomes. Exclusions included studies not exclusive to eye disease, purely adult population studies, reviews, studies with non-availability of full text, and studies exploring other uses of smartphone and designs lacking diagnostic efficacy analysis. Article quality was assessed using the Joanna Briggs Institute Critical Appraisal Checklist. Results A total of 2054 articles were retrieved. After removing 1112 duplicates, 507 records were excluded through title screening, followed by 333 through abstract screening. A full-text review of 83 articles led to the inclusion of 33 studies, involving 16,015 participants. Most of the studies (28, 84.84%) were of high quality, with five (15.15%) of moderate quality. Twelve smartphone applications assessed refractive errors using visual acuity tests or photorefraction, five detected amblyogenic risk factors, six identified strabismus, and three targeted leukocoria. Additional applications evaluated stereoacuity (two), eyelid position (one), chalazion (one), corneal diameter (one), and retinopathy of prematurity (two). Overall, these applications demonstrated the potential of smartphones in paediatric eye disease detection. Conclusion Smartphone applications are effective tools for detecting important causes of childhood eye disorders such as strabismus, retinopathy of prematurity, chalazion, and refractive errors. These technologies offer promising opportunities for teleophthalmology and integration into routine clinical practice.
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spelling doaj-art-50d4d772f3a047e182bfca207ce5f2892025-08-20T02:39:02ZengBMCBMC Ophthalmology1471-24152025-05-0125113310.1186/s12886-025-04160-2Effectiveness of smartphone technology for detection of paediatric ocular diseases—a systematic reviewSruthi Vijendran0Yash Alok1Neetha I. R. Kuzhuppilly2Jayasheela R. Bhat3Yogish S. Kamath4Department of Ophthalmology, Kasturba Medical College, Manipal, Manipal Academy of Higher EducationDepartment of Community Medicine, Kasturba Medical College, Manipal, Manipal Academy of Higher EducationDepartment of Ophthalmology, Kasturba Medical College, Manipal, Manipal Academy of Higher EducationConsultant Optometrist, Karthik Nethralaya Institute of Ophthalmology Pvt LtdDepartment of Ophthalmology, Kasturba Medical College, Manipal, Manipal Academy of Higher EducationAbstract Background Artificial intelligence has become part of healthcare with a multitude of applications being customized to roles required in clinical practice. There has been an expanding growth and development of computer technology with increasing appearance in the ophthalmological universe with roles in detection of most ophthalmic diseases. This article attempts to study the efficacy of smartphones and their applications in detection of paediatric eye diseases. Methods On 24 January 2024, a comprehensive search was performed across five databases—PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature, and ProQuest—focusing on studies assessing smartphone-based disease detection and diagnostic accuracy compared to validated methods. Keywords and MeSH terms, including "smartphone," "eye diseases," and "children," were combined using Boolean operators and eligible studies were obtained. The inclusion criteria covered studies from 2000 to 2023, involving children under 18 years, and reporting diagnostic outcomes. Exclusions included studies not exclusive to eye disease, purely adult population studies, reviews, studies with non-availability of full text, and studies exploring other uses of smartphone and designs lacking diagnostic efficacy analysis. Article quality was assessed using the Joanna Briggs Institute Critical Appraisal Checklist. Results A total of 2054 articles were retrieved. After removing 1112 duplicates, 507 records were excluded through title screening, followed by 333 through abstract screening. A full-text review of 83 articles led to the inclusion of 33 studies, involving 16,015 participants. Most of the studies (28, 84.84%) were of high quality, with five (15.15%) of moderate quality. Twelve smartphone applications assessed refractive errors using visual acuity tests or photorefraction, five detected amblyogenic risk factors, six identified strabismus, and three targeted leukocoria. Additional applications evaluated stereoacuity (two), eyelid position (one), chalazion (one), corneal diameter (one), and retinopathy of prematurity (two). Overall, these applications demonstrated the potential of smartphones in paediatric eye disease detection. Conclusion Smartphone applications are effective tools for detecting important causes of childhood eye disorders such as strabismus, retinopathy of prematurity, chalazion, and refractive errors. These technologies offer promising opportunities for teleophthalmology and integration into routine clinical practice.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12886-025-04160-2SmartphoneMobile applicationsEye diseasesVisual disordersPaediatricChild
spellingShingle Sruthi Vijendran
Yash Alok
Neetha I. R. Kuzhuppilly
Jayasheela R. Bhat
Yogish S. Kamath
Effectiveness of smartphone technology for detection of paediatric ocular diseases—a systematic review
BMC Ophthalmology
Smartphone
Mobile applications
Eye diseases
Visual disorders
Paediatric
Child
title Effectiveness of smartphone technology for detection of paediatric ocular diseases—a systematic review
title_full Effectiveness of smartphone technology for detection of paediatric ocular diseases—a systematic review
title_fullStr Effectiveness of smartphone technology for detection of paediatric ocular diseases—a systematic review
title_full_unstemmed Effectiveness of smartphone technology for detection of paediatric ocular diseases—a systematic review
title_short Effectiveness of smartphone technology for detection of paediatric ocular diseases—a systematic review
title_sort effectiveness of smartphone technology for detection of paediatric ocular diseases a systematic review
topic Smartphone
Mobile applications
Eye diseases
Visual disorders
Paediatric
Child
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s12886-025-04160-2
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