CABHI funding expands development of AI-powered eye screening app
Dr. Emmanuel Ho, Professor at the University of Waterloo School of Pharmacy, has received support through the Centre for Aging + Brain Health Innovation’s (CABHI) Ignite program to advance an innovative mobile screening tool that aims to detect early signs of eye disease and potential changes in cognitive health.
CABHI's Ignite program supports early-stage Canadian innovators, including researchers, point-of-care staff and companies, to help develop, test and validate their solutions. Ho's project bridges artificial intelligence (AI), ocular health and neurodegenerative disease research to create an accessible screening tool for patients, caregivers and healthcare professionals.
The application, called PhotoHealth, allows users to take a photograph of their eye using a smartphone. The image is then analyzed to detect subtle abnormalities that are often invisible to the human eye. By comparing images against datasets from diagnosed patients, the system can identify minute variations suggestive of disease.
Initial development will focus on detecting diabetic retinopathy, a condition that stems from a complication of diabetes that causes damage to the retina and can lead to blindness if left untreated. The research team will also investigate whether changes to eye health correlate with cognitive decline, including dementia.
“Utilizing the eye as a portal could be the key to further understanding brain health and cognitive function,” says Ho.
The project addresses a clear healthcare gap for individuals facing mobility challenges or those living in rural and remote communities that don’t have easy access to specialists.
“Optometrists rely on large, expensive, immovable equipment that isn’t easily transported to a patient,” says Ho. “For someone who lives more than an hour away, travelling for a routine checkup without showing clear signs of vision impairment or concerns, can be a significant burden.”
The app aims to function as a low cost, first-line screening tool and will function offline to accommodate regions with limited internet access, while prioritizing strong privacy protections.
The PhotoHealth team also consists of Waterloo undergraduate students Ari Wertheim and Nicole Hughes along with collaborators Dr. Tejal Patel, Clinical Associate Professor at the School of Pharmacy, Dr. Tammy Labreche, Clinical Associate Professor at the School of Optometry and Dr. Nadine Furtado, Clinical Associate Professor at the School of Optometry.
CABHI funding will support technical development and clinical validation. Ho’s team will recruit study participants to collect eye image data to refine the algorithm’s accuracy and precision.
A Windows-based version of the software has already been created and is now being adapted for Android and iOS platforms.
“Our long-term goal is to make the tool useable across a range of settings, from clinics to long-term care homes to patient homes,” says Ho.
Early disease detection using this tool could have a significant impact on the health of Canadians. By identifying conditions earlier before they escalate, PhotoHealth could reduce pressure on healthcare services and improve quality of life by minimizing the need for additional appointments, treatments and medications.
Beyond diabetic retinopathy, the team plans to expand the app capabilities to detect other eye conditions, such as hemorrhaging, retinal tears and signs of infection. Ho’s research could open new avenues in other disease screening, for example exploring correlations between eye health and infectious diseases.
Dr. Ho gratefully acknowledges the support from the Centre for Aging + Brain Health Innovation, the Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada’s Strategic Science Fund, the Ontario Ministry of Colleges, Universities, Research Excellence & Security, and the Baycrest Foundation. This research is in collaboration with Watco.