Moot highlights use of AI in prevention of blindness

LAHORE:The College of Ophthalmology and Allied Vision Sciences (COAVS) organised a seminar on Thursday with the collaboration of Ophthalytics and OptoMed, the company, which used artificial intelligence to prevent blindness by developing advanced eye care devices.

Company officials - Vaino, Awais Bajwa and Neelam Nausheen said that they worked on advanced devices to detect "diabetic retinopathy and age-related irreversible damage to the retina, glaucoma and other eye diseases."

This device helped in detecting the damages of intera-ocular pressure, diabetes, and provided a treatment and prevention plan, they said and added that this product helped millions of people around the world with various eye diseases and provided support for the prevention, treatment and timely diagnosis. COAVS Principal and Chairman Eye Department KEMU Mayo Hospital Lahore Prof Dr M Moin addressed the audience and said that this technology is very useful for doctors to accurately diagnose eye diseases caused by diabetes and intera-ocular pressure. It will prove useful and help in reducing the incidence of blindness.

Provincial Coordinator for Prevention of Blindness Programme Punjab Prof Dr Asad Aslam Khan said that this is a very important development to prevent blindness. KEMU Vice-Chancellor Prof Dr Mahmood Ayyaz thanked the management of COAVS for promoting technology in eye health. Prof Dr Syed Raza Ali Shah, Prof Dr Ali Ayaz Sadiq, Dr Nasir Ch, Dr Khalid Latif, Dr Farooq, Dr Salman Hamza, Technologist Zia ur Rehman and a large number of faculty participated in the seminar.

1,103 laptops distributed

The University of Okara (UO) Laptops Distribution Committee, in collaboration with the Higher Education Commission (HEC) representatives, distributed1,103 laptops, under the Prime Minister Laptop Scheme 2023, among the high scoring students from all academic departments.

According to a press release, the three-day ceremony was supervised by the Convener Laptops Distribution Committee, Dr Nasrin Akhter. The Super Focal Person of the event was Dr Ghulam Ali while Dr Amjad Ali and Dr Rana Javed Rashid contributed to the overall arrangements.

The Pro-Vice-Chancellor of the university, Prof Dr Muhammad Wajid, applauded the committee and the HEC team for ensuring transparency and merit in the ceremony. While talking to the students at this event, Dr Nasrin said, ‘This initiative by the government is meant for equipping the students with state-of-the-art technology so that they work on their research projects efficiently and use these laptops for making a livelihood through freelancing.’ Prof Wajid regarded this scheme as a significant milestone towards smart education and the promotion of research in Pakistan.