Smartphone-based innovations are revolutionizing ophthalmic care by addressing global disparities in access and efficiency through the integration of mobile health (mHealth), artificial intelligence (AI), and IoT. Pioneered by Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center-China's top-ranked eye hospital and home to the State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology-these advancements include AI-driven tools for early detection of congenital cataracts, glaucoma, and strabismus in children via gaze analysis, enabling home-based visual impairment screening. Smartphone apps also support rare ocular surface tumor diagnosis with virtual triage and referral, while AI-powered follow-up systems improve postoperative compliance. Non-invasive prenatal risk prediction for congenital eye diseases, delivered via a free real-time app, achieves 90% accuracy using machine learning. The team addresses data security through 3D reconstruction and deep learning, enabling "disease recognition without personal identification" to safeguard privacy. Cost-effectiveness analyses confirm smartphone-AI screening as the optimal solution for urban and rural populations. Further innovations include 5G-enabled mobile clinics and an internet hospital platform handling 30,000+ annual visits, offering AI triage, teleconsultations, and cloud-based diagnostics. With over 1.5 million annual outpatient visits and a role in training 20% of China's ophthalmologists, Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center exemplifies translational impact, merging cutting-edge technology with scalable solutions. This work underscores mHealth's transformative potential in democratizing eye care, enhancing clinical efficiency, and setting new global standards for ophthalmology.
