World Diabetes Day on Nov 14: Free screenings for diabetic retinopathy with AI assistance from Nov 1
Diabetic retinopathy treatments include laser therapy to seal blood vessels and reduce abnormal growth, intravitreal injections for swelling, and vitrectomy surgery in severe cases.
3 min read
The Maharashtra Ophthalmological Society have tied up with Remidio-- healthcare technology company that specializes in developing innovative medical devices and software solutions, particularly for eye care. Diabetes can damage eye blood vessels, causing diabetic retinopathy. However, many diabetes patients remain unaware of its progression until it’s advanced. To aid early detection, ahead of World Diabetes Day on November 14, the Maharashtra Ophthalmological Society (MOS) plans to offer free screenings with the assistance of Artificial Intelligence.
Starting on November 1, the Maharashtra Ophthalmological Society (MOS), with more than 3,000 eye doctors in the state, will begin screening patients to detect diabetic retinopathy. This eye condition occurs when high blood sugar harms the blood vessels in the retina, possibly leading to vision issues and even blindness. “We often notice that patients come to us at a late stage of diabetes retinopathy when it has already caused permanent damage. So, this World Diabetes Day, we decided to hold screening of patients both in urban and rural areas as we know, ‘prevention is better than cure’,” said Dr S Natarajan, Chairman, Aditya Jyot Eye Hospital and former president of MOS.
Typically, diagnosing diabetic retinopathy involves using special eye drops (mydriatics) to dilate the pupil, providing a clearer view of the retina. However, this process can be time-consuming, posing challenges during screening events. So, MOS has decided to conduct the screening with non-mydriatic fundus cameras which are specialized medical imaging device used to capture detailed images of the retina, located at the back of the eye, without the need for dilating eye drops (mydriatics). “By using specialized optical techniques, non-mydriatic fundus cameras can provide high-resolution images of the retina, allowing healthcare professionals to assess the health of the eye and detect abnormalities, potentially preventing vision loss and guiding treatment decisions for patients with eye disorders,” said Dr Atul Kadhane, Secretary of MOS.
For this, they have tied up with Remidio– healthcare technology company that specializes in developing innovative medical devices and software solutions, particularly for eye care.
Natarajan explained how using your smartphone to take pictures of the back of the eye (fundus photography) is an affordable, efficient, and portable way to capture images of the retina. “With practice and the right smartphone apps, even beginners can become skilled at this technique. By teaching aspiring eye doctors and training primary eye care providers, it can be used for early diagnosis,” he added.
Dr Kadhane added that all the screened data will be uploaded to Remidio’s central server in Bangalore. AI algorithms will then analyze the results to detect retinopathy, reducing the risk of human errors in diagnosis. This data will also aid in generating insights for journal articles. To raise awareness, pamphlets, videos, and banners will be distributed across the state. Dr Natarajan emphasized the importance of early detection to preserve patients’ vision with appropriate treatment.
Diabetic retinopathy treatments include laser therapy to seal blood vessels and reduce abnormal growth, intravitreal injections for swelling, and vitrectomy surgery in severe cases. Maintaining blood sugar and blood pressure, along with regular eye exams, is vital for managing and preserving vision.
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