Myopia Prediction Using Machine Learning: An External Validation Study

We previously developed machine learning (ML) models for predicting cycloplegic spherical equivalent refraction (SER) and myopia using non-cycloplegic data and following a standardized protocol (cycloplegia with 0.5% tropicamide and biometry using NIDEK A-scan), but the models' performance may not be generalizable to other settings. This study evaluated the performance of ML models in an independent cohort using a different cycloplegic agent and biometer. Chinese students (N = 614) aged 8-13 years underwent autorefraction before and after cycloplegia with 0.5% tropicamide (<i>n</i> = 505) or 1% cyclopentolate (<i>n</i> = 109). Biometric measures were obtained using an IOLMaster 700 (<i>n</i> = 207) or Optical Biometer SW-9000 (<i>n</i> = 407). ML models were evaluated using R², mean absolute error (MAE), sensitivity, specificity, and area under the ROC curve (AUC). The XGBoost model predicted cycloplegic SER very well (R² = 0.95, MAE (SD) = 0.32 (0.30) D). Both ML models predicted myopia well (random forest: AUC 0.99, sensitivity 93.7%, specificity 96.4%; XGBoost: sensitivity 90.1%, specificity 96.8%) and accurately predicted the myopia rate (observed 62.9%; random forest: 60.6%; XGBoost: 58.8%) despite heterogeneous cycloplegia and biometry factors. In this independent cohort of students, XGBoost and random forest performed very well for predicting cycloplegic SER and myopia status using non-cycloplegic data. This external validation study demonstrated that ML may provide a useful tool for estimating cycloplegic SER and myopia prevalence with heterogeneous clinical parameters, and study in additional populations is warranted.