A new study reported in Biophotonics Discovery offers a promising alternative: using simple grayscale photos of the eye's conjunctiva—the inner surface of the eyelid and the white part of the eye—to predict anemia.
Researchers from Purdue University, Rwanda Biomedical Center, and University of Rwanda used standard smartphones to take over 12,000 eye photos from 565 children aged 5 to 15.
They then applied machine learning along with a technique called radiomics, which mathematically analyzes patterns and textures in medical images, to identify features linked to anemia.
The results show a strong connection between specific spatial features and anemia status, pointing to the possibility of screening for anemia using just a smartphone and basic software.
This could be especially useful in remote or under-resourced communities, offering a fast, noninvasive, and affordable way to identify children at risk.
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