Use of Machine Learning on Contact Lens Sensor-Derived Parameters for the Diagnosis of Primary Open-angle Glaucoma

Am J Ophthalmol. 2018 Oct:194:46-53. doi: 10.1016/j.ajo.2018.07.005. Epub 2018 Jul 25.

Abstract

Purpose: To test the hypothesis that contact lens sensor (CLS)-based 24-hour profiles of ocular volume changes contain information complementary to intraocular pressure (IOP) to discriminate between primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) and healthy (H) eyes.

Design: Development and evaluation of a diagnostic test with machine learning.

Methods: Subjects: From 435 subjects (193 healthy and 242 POAG), 136 POAG and 136 age-matched healthy subjects were selected. Subjects with contraindications for CLS wear were excluded.

Procedure: This is a pooled analysis of data from 24 prospective clinical studies and a registry. All subjects underwent 24-hour CLS recording on 1 eye. Statistical and physiological CLS parameters were derived from the signal recorded. CLS parameters frequently associated with the presence of POAG were identified using a random forest modeling approach.

Main outcome measures: Area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC AUC) for feature sets including CLS parameters and Start IOP, as well as a feature set with CLS parameters and Start IOP combined.

Results: The CLS parameters feature set discriminated POAG from H eyes with mean ROC AUCs of 0.611, confidence interval (CI) 0.493-0.722. Larger values of a given CLS parameter were in general associated with a diagnosis of POAG. The Start IOP feature set discriminated between POAG and H eyes with a mean ROC AUC of 0.681, CI 0.603-0.765. The combined feature set was the best indicator of POAG with an ROC AUC of 0.759, CI 0.654-0.855. This ROC AUC was statistically higher than for CLS parameters or Start IOP feature sets alone (both P < .0001).

Conclusions: CLS recordings contain information complementary to IOP that enable discrimination between H and POAG. The feature set combining CLS parameters and Start IOP provide a better indication of the presence of POAG than each of the feature sets separately. As such, the CLS may be a new biomarker for POAG.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Validation Study

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Area Under Curve
  • Contact Lenses*
  • Female
  • Glaucoma, Open-Angle / diagnosis*
  • Glaucoma, Open-Angle / physiopathology
  • Humans
  • Intraocular Pressure / physiology*
  • Machine Learning*
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Monitoring, Ambulatory / instrumentation*
  • Prospective Studies
  • ROC Curve
  • Telemetry / instrumentation
  • Tonometry, Ocular / instrumentation*