He was the only Vietnamese presenter to receive an award in the Poster Presentation category, with first and third prizes awarded to Japanese doctors.
*Could you briefly share the idea, development process, and practical value of this model in grading pathological myopia and detecting retinal lesions?
Previously, myopia grading was mainly based on the degree of nearsightedness. However, recent studies reveal that severe complications can occur even at low levels of myopia, below 6D.
To prevent these complications, early screening is necessary. Unfortunately, not all areas have ophthalmologists, and implementing large-scale programs remains challenging.
From this reality, I developed an AI model to screen for pathological myopia early. Its main advantages are rapid processing and potential for widespread community application.
*Your research introduced an AI model capable of automatically analyzing and diagnosing eye diseases from a single fundus image. Could you elaborate on how this model works and its trial results?
This AI model classifies the severity of pathological myopia according to the META-PM international system.
It also identifies and localizes dangerous lesions such as lacquer cracks, choroidal neovascularization, and Fuchs spots, complications that are difficult to detect at an early stage if relying solely on a doctor’s experience.
Trial results demonstrated that the system detected 93.06% of pathological myopia cases accurately and identified 90.91% of non-disease cases correctly.
For “Plus” lesions, accuracy reached 88.9%, with a false positive rate of only 2.8%.
Notably, the average processing time per image was just 6.06 seconds-1.38 seconds faster than a doctor, while achieving accuracy and consistency comparable to experienced ophthalmology experts.
*In your opinion, how will the application of artificial intelligence in ophthalmology advance diagnosis and treatment in the future?
Artificial intelligence cannot replace doctors, but it serves as a powerful support tool. AI helps standardize diagnostic procedures, reducing reliance on the subjective experience of specialists.
With the ability to screen quickly and accurately, AI can detect early-stage lesions that are often missed, enabling timely treatment and lowering the risk of blindness.
It also reduces workload for medical staff, shortens waiting times in mass screening programs, supports personalized treatment, and allows for tailored care plans to optimize patient outcomes.
*Having worked at An Nhon Medical Center, what motivated you to choose ophthalmology, and do you plan to apply your research results at the grassroots level?
During my work in primary healthcare, I noticed a severe shortage of ophthalmology personnel, especially subspecialists, while demand for eye care was rising. This inspired me to pursue ophthalmology to help bridge this gap.
The initial goal of my research was grassroots application, and I plan to implement it soon.
I intend to develop a website platform to provide the AI model free of charge to medical facilities lacking ophthalmologists, giving local communities access to advanced technology.
*After receiving this award, do you have further research or professional development plans?
This international recognition is both an honor and a motivation for me to expand AI applications to support ophthalmologists. Pathological myopia is only one aspect of the model’s potential.
In the near future, I will focus on identifying and screening other eye diseases such as glaucoma and diabetic retinopathy, gradually developing the model into a comprehensive tool for ophthalmic disease screening.
MSc, MD Le Thai Minh Hieu graduated from Hue University of Medicine and Pharmacy and worked at An Nhon Medical Center from 2021 to 2025.
He completed his Master’s program at Ho Chi Minh City University of Medicine and Pharmacy and interned at institutions including Cao Thang Eye Hospital and Xuan Vu Eye Center. He is currently with Saigon Eye Hospital - Bien Hoa.
The GOMCC 2025, hosted in Hanoi by the Vietnam Optometry Association (VOA) in collaboration with the International Academy of Orthokeratology and Myopia Control (IAOA), took place from August 22 - 24.
The conference gathered experts from the US, Canada, Australia, Japan, South Korea, Singapore, and Vietnam, aiming to share scientific evidence, clinical practices, and foster global cooperation in myopia control research and training.