Johns Hopkins and Thai Partners Unite to Fight Childhood Blindness
Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, in collaboration with Chiang Mai University and supported by the Yoovidhya family, launches a multi-year project to improve diagnosis and treatment of retinal diseases in children across Thailand. Pictured from left: Mr. Thanit Buakhiew, Jun Kong, M.D., PhD., Dr Neil M. Bressler, Khun Awika Chaengchenkit, Assistant Professor Atchareeya Wiwatwongwana, Assoc. Prof. Voraporn Chaikitmongkol, and Mr. Wanchard Boonsom, at Maharaj Nakorn Chiang Mai Hospital.
Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, in collaboration with Chiang Mai University, is spearheading a groundbreaking initiative to improve the diagnosis and treatment of retinal diseases in children across Thailand. The multi-year project, led by Dr Neil M. Bressler, James P. Gills Professor of Ophthalmology at Johns Hopkins, focuses on reducing blindness caused by retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) and other common retinal diseases.
ROP is a condition that affects premature infants due to the abnormal growth of blood vessels on the retina, often leading to blindness. In Thailand, at least 1 in 1,000 children are blind, with two-thirds of these cases resulting from ROP. Current screening methods, involving ophthalmoscopy, can be stressful and medically risky for infants, requiring significant expertise from ophthalmologists, who are scarce in many regions worldwide.
A Vision for Prevention
The project aims to utilise advanced imaging technology and telemedicine to make early detection and treatment of ROP less stressful for infants and less reliant on highly specialised professionals. Recently developed specialised cameras allow for the acquisition of retinal images in premature infants, which can then be analysed by expert readers via telemedicine. In the future, these processes could be augmented by artificial intelligence to interpret retinal images, potentially improving accuracy and speed in detecting abnormal blood vessels.
The initiative, supported by funds from the Yoovidhya family, aims to create a sustainable programme that will expand throughout Thailand and eventually be adopted worldwide. A key component of the project is a generous donation, including a state-of-the-art paediatric wide-field retinal camera and funding for the design, operation, and reporting of this initiative.
Site Visit and Future Developments
A site visit is planned for Wednesday, 21 August 2024, at Chiang Mai University, where media will have the opportunity to observe the project in action. This visit will also serve as a platform for recognising the contributions of the Yoovidhya family in the Wilmer Eye Institute’s 2024 Annual Report.
Dr Bressler noted that this collaboration with Chiang Mai University could significantly reduce the risk of childhood blindness in Thailand by ensuring that infants diagnosed with ROP receive timely treatment. "This project is an essential step towards a future where advanced medical technology and global partnerships can reduce preventable blindness in children, not only in Thailand but around the world," he said.
As the programme progresses, it aims to set a new standard for managing retinal diseases in children and adults, making effective use of modern technology and international expertise to improve patient outcomes and expand research and educational opportunities in Thailand.
