Real-World External Validation of a Clinically Implemented Artificial Intelligence Index for Visual Field Severity from Optical Coherence Tomography
Year: 2026
Type: preprint
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: Purpose To externally evaluate the unitless optical coherence tomography–derived AI-CO index for association with Humphrey mean deviation (MD) and discrimination of MD-defined visual field severity. Methods This retrospective study included 819 eyes of 424 patients receiving glaucoma care, with AI-CO analysis and Humphrey 24-2 SITA Faster or 30-2 SITA Fast testing within 365 days. The unitless output labeled “peripheral” was termed AI-CO all. Primary analyses assessed Spearman rank correlation and discrimination at MD thresholds of −2, −6, and −12 dB. Additional analyses assessed adjusted associations and one-eye-per-patient and program-specific robustness. Exploratory analyses assessed nonlinearity and cutoffs with patient-level cross-validation. Results AI-CO all correlated with Humphrey MD (Spearman ρ=0.785; patient-cluster 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.750–0.818). Median AI-CO all values decreased from −2.10 in the normal range to −4.40, −10.15, and −17.35 in mild, moderate, and severe categories, respectively (ordered trend P<0.001). Areas under the receiver operating characteristic curve were 0.870 (95% CI, 0.842–0.895), 0.919 (0.894–0.939), and 0.943 (0.920–0.963) at the three thresholds. The adjusted spline detected modest nonlinearity with little gain in explained variance over a linear model (R 2 , 0.735 to 0.738). Associations remained after covariate adjustment, and findings were similar in the one-eye-per-patient analysis and across visual field programs. Conclusions AI-CO all showed a rank correlation with Humphrey MD and differentiated eyes across specified MD thresholds. It should be interpreted as a severity-related index that complements, rather than replaces, measured perimetry. Exploratory AI-CO all cutoffs require independent validation. Translational Relevance In routine glaucoma care, AI-CO all showed a rank correlation with Humphrey MD and discriminated MD-defined severity.
Source: medRxiv
Authors: Yukiko Kora, Hiromi Kora, Toshitake Kora
Language: English
Subfield: Ophthalmology
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W7212391838