Saving Children’s Sight in Ethiopia

Retinoblastoma, a rare but devastating childhood cancer of the eye photos to detect ocular cancer and other eye diseases, such eye, is treatable with timely diagnosis and care. The condition as cataracts. The goal is to get this tool, first introduced to most often impacts those under 5 years of age. Worldwide, it nearly 20 Ethiopian ophthalmologists during the February visit, is estimated that thousands of children develop retinoblastoma into the hands of primary care physicians as well as providers each year. who give immunizations to infants. Twelve hundred patients

In the United States, retinoblastoma is typically caught during routine exams, enabling ophthalmologists to intervene early and prevent blindness. By contrast, in Ethiopia, by the time many children see an ophthalmologist, the cancer is so far along that they have an abnormal protrusion or displacement of the eye. At this point, it is often too late to save their vision and sometimes their lives.

In an effort to intervene and help halt the devastating effects of retinoblastoma, the W.K. Kellogg Eye Center is partnering with five academic medical centers in Ethiopia to create a national focus on identifying and treating retinoblastoma. In support of the partnership, “We were fortunate to spend two weeks in Ethiopia in February, before the of fellowship training for Ethiopian ophthalmologists in eye plastics and orbital surgery. This coronavirus pandemic hit, to launch our pilot project for screening for retinoblastoma,” says Christine C. Nelson, M.D., the Bartley R. Frueh, M.D. and Frueh Family Collegiate Professor in Eye Plastics and Orbital Surgery as well as a co-director of Kellogg’s Center for International Ophthalmology.

Ophthalmology residents at St. Paul's.

The pilot screening program uses a cell phone app jointly joint development of current and future fellowship training in developed by faculty and trainees at Kellogg and the U-M glaucoma, retina and pediatrics at St. Paul’s. College of Engineering. The app uses artificial intelligence and eye photos to detect ocular cancer and other eye diseases, such as cataracts. The goal is to get this tool, first introduced to nearly 20 Ethiopian ophthalmologists during the February visit, into the hands of primary care physicians as well as providers who give immunizations to infants. Twelve hundred patients have already been screened. In addition to the screening program, the partnership is teaching pediatricians and families about the early symptoms of re noblastoma. “We are proud to be working with ophthalmologists in Ethiopia who are dedicated to making a difference for these children,” says Dr. Nelson.

The effort is funded by an anonymous gift from a foundation that supports global health programs. “None of this would be possible without philanthropic support,” Dr. Nelson says.

In an additional effort to improve ophthalmic screening and care for retinoblastoma in Ethiopia, Dr. Nelson is leading the coordination of fellowship training for Ethiopian ophthalmologists in eye plastics and orbital surgery. This advanced training is a natural complement to Kellogg's existing collaboration with the ophthalmology residency training program at St. Paul’s Hospital Millennium Medical College in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. The additional training adds to our joint development of current and future fellowship training in glaucoma, retina and pediatrics at St. Paul’s.