Automated Early-Stage Glaucoma Detection Using a Robust Concatenated AI Model

Glaucoma is a leading cause of irreversible blindness worldwide; therefore, detection of this disease in its early stage is crucial. However, previous efforts to identify early-stage glaucoma have faced challenges, including insufficient accuracy, sensitivity, and specificity. This study presents a...

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Main Authors: Wheyming Song, Ing-Chou Lai
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-05-01
Series:Bioengineering
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2306-5354/12/5/516
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author Wheyming Song
Ing-Chou Lai
author_facet Wheyming Song
Ing-Chou Lai
author_sort Wheyming Song
collection DOAJ
description Glaucoma is a leading cause of irreversible blindness worldwide; therefore, detection of this disease in its early stage is crucial. However, previous efforts to identify early-stage glaucoma have faced challenges, including insufficient accuracy, sensitivity, and specificity. This study presents a concatenated artificial intelligence model that combines two types of input features: fundus images and quantitative retinal thickness parameters derived from macular and peri-papillary retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness measurements. These features undergo an intelligent transformation, referred to as “smart preprocessing”, to enhance their utility. The model employs two classification approaches: a convolutional neural network approach for processing image features and an artificial neural network approach for analyzing quantitative retinal thickness parameters. To maximize performance, hyperparameters were fine-tuned using a robust methodology for the design of experiments. The proposed AI model demonstrated outstanding performance in early-stage glaucoma detection, outperforming existing models; its accuracy, sensitivity, specificity, precision, and <inline-formula><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><semantics><msub><mi>F</mi><mn>1</mn></msub></semantics></math></inline-formula>-Score all exceeding 0.90.
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spelling doaj-art-903a3176a9f4482fbf41dc280a53478a2025-08-20T01:56:25ZengMDPI AGBioengineering2306-53542025-05-0112551610.3390/bioengineering12050516Automated Early-Stage Glaucoma Detection Using a Robust Concatenated AI ModelWheyming Song0Ing-Chou Lai1Department of Information Engineering and Computer Science, Feng Chia University, Taichung 407102, TaiwanDepartment of Ophthalmology, Chiayi Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Puzi City 61363, TaiwanGlaucoma is a leading cause of irreversible blindness worldwide; therefore, detection of this disease in its early stage is crucial. However, previous efforts to identify early-stage glaucoma have faced challenges, including insufficient accuracy, sensitivity, and specificity. This study presents a concatenated artificial intelligence model that combines two types of input features: fundus images and quantitative retinal thickness parameters derived from macular and peri-papillary retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness measurements. These features undergo an intelligent transformation, referred to as “smart preprocessing”, to enhance their utility. The model employs two classification approaches: a convolutional neural network approach for processing image features and an artificial neural network approach for analyzing quantitative retinal thickness parameters. To maximize performance, hyperparameters were fine-tuned using a robust methodology for the design of experiments. The proposed AI model demonstrated outstanding performance in early-stage glaucoma detection, outperforming existing models; its accuracy, sensitivity, specificity, precision, and <inline-formula><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><semantics><msub><mi>F</mi><mn>1</mn></msub></semantics></math></inline-formula>-Score all exceeding 0.90.https://www.mdpi.com/2306-5354/12/5/516glaucomairreversible blindnessperipapillary retinal nerve fiber layer thicknessmacular thickness
spellingShingle Wheyming Song
Ing-Chou Lai
Automated Early-Stage Glaucoma Detection Using a Robust Concatenated AI Model
Bioengineering
glaucoma
irreversible blindness
peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer thickness
macular thickness
title Automated Early-Stage Glaucoma Detection Using a Robust Concatenated AI Model
title_full Automated Early-Stage Glaucoma Detection Using a Robust Concatenated AI Model
title_fullStr Automated Early-Stage Glaucoma Detection Using a Robust Concatenated AI Model
title_full_unstemmed Automated Early-Stage Glaucoma Detection Using a Robust Concatenated AI Model
title_short Automated Early-Stage Glaucoma Detection Using a Robust Concatenated AI Model
title_sort automated early stage glaucoma detection using a robust concatenated ai model
topic glaucoma
irreversible blindness
peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer thickness
macular thickness
url https://www.mdpi.com/2306-5354/12/5/516
work_keys_str_mv AT wheymingsong automatedearlystageglaucomadetectionusingarobustconcatenatedaimodel
AT ingchoulai automatedearlystageglaucomadetectionusingarobustconcatenatedaimodel