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BACKGROUND: Diabetic macular edema (DME) is the leading cause of vision loss in people with diabetes. Application of artificial intelligence (AI) in interpreting fundus photography (FP) and optical coherence tomography (OCT) images allows prompt detection and intervention. PURPOSE: To evaluate the performance of AI in detecting DME from FP or OCT images and identify potential factors affecting model performances. DATA SOURCES: We searched seven electronic libraries up to 12 February 2023. STUDY SELECTION: We included studies using AI to detect DME from FP or OCT images. DATA EXTRACTION: We extracted study characteristics and performance parameters. DATA SYNTHESIS: Fifty-three studies were included in the meta-analysis. FP-based algorithms of 25 studies yielded pooled area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUROC), sensitivity, and specificity of 0.964, 92.6%, and 91.1%, respectively. OCT-based algorithms of 28 studies yielded pooled AUROC, sensitivity, and specificity of 0.985, 95.9%, and 97.9%, respectively. Potential factors improving model performance included deep learning techniques, larger size, and more diversity in training data sets. Models demonstrated better performance when validated internally than externally, and those trained with multiple data sets showed better results upon external validation. LIMITATIONS: Analyses were limited by unstandardized algorithm outcomes and insufficient data in patient demographics, OCT volumetric scans, and external validation. CONCLUSIONS: This meta-analysis demonstrates satisfactory performance of AI in detecting DME from FP or OCT images. External validation is warranted for future studies to evaluate model generalizability. Further investigations may estimate optimal sample size, effect of class balance, patient demographics, and additional benefits of OCT volumetric scans. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Optical coherence tomography angiography (OCT-A) provides depth-resolved visualization of the retinal microvasculature without intravenous dye injection. It facilitates investigations of various retinal vascular diseases and glaucoma by assessment of qualitative and quantitative microvascular changes in the different retinal layers and radial peripapillary layer non-invasively, individually, and efficiently. Deep learning (DL), a subset of artificial intelligence (AI) based on deep neural networks, has been applied in OCT-A image analysis in recent years and achieved good performance for different tasks, such as image quality control, segmentation, and classification. DL technologies have further facilitated the potential implementation of OCT-A in eye clinics in an automated and efficient manner and enhanced its clinical values for detecting and evaluating various vascular retinopathies. Nevertheless, the deployment of this combination in real-world clinics is still in the "proof-of-concept" stage due to several limitations, such as small training sample size, lack of standardized data preprocessing, insufficient testing in external datasets, and absence of standardized results interpretation. In this review, we introduce the existing applications of DL in OCT-A, summarize the potential challenges of the clinical deployment, and discuss future research directions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]