Hyderabad-based L V Prasad Eye Institute and CognitiveCare, a US-based health tech startup and pioneer in the early detection and quantification of health risks, have announced a partnership to jointly pursue efforts that advance the early detection of eye diseases and adverse eye conditions in infants and children.

This partnership combines L V Prasad Eye Institute’s world-renowned expertise and research in eye health with CognitiveCare’s artificial intelligent (AI) platform, which incorporates granular insights and patterns that interplay with clinical and social determinants to quantify propensity for health risks at individual and population levels early.

Retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) is a leading cause of preventable blindness in infants and children worldwide. India is experiencing an ROP epidemic, significantly impacting rural districts. Furthermore, it is projected that the myopia epidemic will affect 50% of the global population by 2050. The prevalence of myopia in children in India has quadrupled in the past twenty years. Active prevention and mitigation strategies are needed to control and potentially reverse both the ROP and myopia trends currently seen in India.

“Alongside our partners at the L V Prasad Eye Institute, our aim is to support healthcare constituents in understanding propensity for eye conditions early enough to prevent adverse outcomes, including blindness in infants and myopia in children,” said Sheena Gill, President and CEO, Americas for CognitiveCare.