The 40th World Ophthalmology Congress (WOC), hosted by Prague in the Czech Republic, featured a groundbreaking research presentation from Linfen Aier Eye Hospital.

A collaborative paper authored by Wu Ying, deputy director of the hospital, and Zhang Lijun, deputy general director of Shanxi Aier Eye Hospital, was selected for presentation at the conference. This achievement marks an exciting new milestone in showcasing Linfen's ophthalmic research breakthroughs on the global stage.

The congress, organized by the International Council of Ophthalmology, is the largest and most prestigious academic event in the global ophthalmology community, presenting cutting-edge advancements in this branch of science that specializes in treating eye and visual disorders.

The academic exchange venue at the 40th WOC. [Photo/Linfen Daily]

The study focused on developing an AI-based predictive model for myopia progression, or the advancement of short-sightedness, in adolescents. Drawing on data from 40,445 participants across 10 medical institutions in China and analyzing over 130,000 follow-up records, the research team evaluated machine learning algorithms.

They identified 12 clinical indicators to predict the risk of myopia progression, and determined age, initial refractive error, and follow-up intervals as three key variables to address the interpretability issues commonly found in traditional AI models.

Wu performs ophthalmic surgery at Linfen Aier Eye Hospital. [Photo/Linfen Daily]

Unlike similar studies that typically involve smaller sample sizes and lack intervention data, this AI model supports risk stratification and the development of personalized prevention strategies, making it well-suited for clinical application.

The international recognition of this study highlights its practical value. The hospital plans to explore sub-specialty ophthalmology research to enhance local capacities in both disease treatment and scientific innovation.