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Using AI and Machine Learning, Indonesia’s CekMata helps users detect cataracts

The CekMata platform plans to add an online ophthalmologist consultation service to enable early detection

There are plenty of challenges faced by the Indonesian healthcare sector today. One of them is the high number of visual impairment caused by cataracts; this issue is worsen by the incomparable number of ophthalmologists available for every citizen in the country. The WHO declared that by 2020, every minute there will be one person in Indonesia who goes blind because of cataract. This is something that can happen to anyone.

But in the hands of an innovator, such challenges can lead to the birth of bright ideas. An example of such innovation is what the founders of CekMata has done.

CekMata is a web-based platform that utilises Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) to assist early detection of potential cataracts on users’ eyes. The process is quite simple; users only have to visit the site and upload a close-up photo of their eyes. From existing pigments, the system will detect any difference between a healthy eye and an infected one. Once it has found the anomaly, the system will direct users to the nearest ophthalmologist or hospital.

In detail, CekMata CEO and Co-Founder Caesar Lagaliggo Givani explains the role that AI and ML play in the detection process.

“Using the AI and ML technologies, CekMata is able to tell the difference between cataract-infected and healthy eyes early on simply looking at photos. The process is possible as it is basically the same as teaching a child to differentiate between zebras and horses; we taught CekMata on how to differentiate healthy eyes and cataract. In teaching children the difference between horses and zebras, parents usually start by putting images of zebras and horses side-by-side. The more images being given, the smarter the children will be. They will be able to tell the difference between zebras and horses even when the animals are sleeping, standing, hiding behind a tree, and many more. This is the mechanism that we try to copy. We showed it thousands of images so that CekMata will be so smart that it can differentiate between healthy eyes and cataract.”

Givani dubbed digital health as a certain future; sooner or later its usage is going to increase rapidly in the society. The role of digital innovators is urgently needed as there are many issues on the different levels of healthcare services in Indonesia that demand efficient solutions; technology is supposed to play a greater role in this.

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He also believes that healthcare professionals such as doctors will not be negatively affected by the rise of digital innovation; there are actually many advantages that they can get from it.

“There are so many healthcare issues in Indonesia waiting to be solved by digital health, and healthcare professionals such as doctors will not be disadvantaged by this, in fact, they will benefit greatly from it. As an example, with CekMata there will be more cataract patients directed to ophthalmologists to handle. The patient is saved, and doctors and other healthcare providers can do their jobs more optimally,” says Givani, who also happens to be a doctor.

CekMata developer team. Image Credit: TheNextDev 2017

CekMata has recently won digital innovation competition TheNextDev 2017. On February 11-20, 2018, the startup is set to go to Silicon Valley to participate in intensive training programmes to accelerate their business through the Startup Grind’s Global Conference and Silicon Valley Immersion Program. The Surabaya-based startup was initiated by three co-founders: Givani (CEO), Sylvester Albert Samadhi (CTO), and Ivan Sinarso (CMO). Instead of being an ophthalmologist, Givani specialises in internal medicine. Samadhi is a programmer, a machine learning specialist, while Sinarso is a serial entrepreneur.

“The medical field is my life, and I am attracted to anything in the field that requires immediate handling or solution. Because everyone has the right to live healthily as the greatest gift that God has ever given to mankind,” Givani adds.

The year 2018 is expected to become an exciting debut for CekMata. The startup aims to increase the accuracy of its platform this year; so that it can make better early detection of cataract (with more than 95 per cent accuracy). In addition to that, Givani and team also expect significant increase in users this year. They aim to achieve that by fostering more partnership with the eye care industry players. The team is currently developing an online ophthalmologist consultation platform to enable patients in remote area to receive the best care.

The article Manfaatkan Artificial Intelligence dan Machine Learning, CekMata.com Bantu Masyarakat Deteksi Katarak was written by Randi Eka Yonida for DailySocial. English translation and editing by e27.

The post Using AI and Machine Learning, Indonesia’s CekMata helps users detect cataracts appeared first on e27.