Clinical Applicability and Cross-Dataset Validation of Machine Learning Models for Binary Glaucoma Detection

Glaucoma is a progressive optic nerve disease and a leading cause of irreversible blindness worldwide. Early and accurate detection is critical to prevent vision loss, yet traditional diagnostic methods such as optical coherence tomography and visual field tests face challenges in accessibility, cost, and consistency, especially in under-resourced areas. This study evaluates the clinical applicability and robustness of three machine learning models for automated glaucoma detection: a convolutional neural network, a deep neural network, and an automated ensemble approach. The models were trained and validated on retinal fundus images and tested on an independent dataset to assess their ability to generalize across different patient populations. Data preprocessing included resizing, normalization, and feature extraction to ensure consistency. Among the models, the deep neural network demonstrated the highest generalizability with stable performance across datasets, while the convolutional neural network showed moderate but consistent results. The ensemble model exhibited overfitting, which limited its practical use. These findings highlight the importance of proper evaluation frameworks, including external validation, to ensure the reliability of artificial intelligence tools for clinical use. The study provides insights into the development of scalable, effective diagnostic solutions that align with regulatory guidelines, addressing the critical need for accessible glaucoma detection tools in diverse healthcare settings.