"For people with diabetes, autonomous AI systems have the potential to improve earlier detection of diabetic
retinopathy, and thereby lessen the suffering caused by blindness and visual loss," the study authors added.
The photos were checked for four types of
retinopathy: arteriovenous nicking, focal arteriolar narrowing, retinal microaneurysms, and retinal hemorrhage.
"
Retinopathy as a term means any abnormality of the retina," says Dr Muhammad Hamed Farooqi, Director and Consultant Endocrinologist, Dubai Diabetes Centre.
In cases in which the images are of sufficient quality, the software provides the doctor with one of two results: "More than mild diabetic
retinopathy detected; refer to an eye care professional" or "Negative for more than mild diabetic
retinopathy; rescreen in 12 months."
IDx-DR correctly identified more than mild diabetic
retinopathy 87.4 percent of the time and correctly identified patients who did not have more than mild diabetic
retinopathy 89.5 percent of the time.
A clinical trial of the device's effectiveness -- based on images from 900 patients with diabetes -- found it could correctly identify more than mild diabetic
retinopathy 87 percent of the time, and patients who did not have more than mild diabetic
retinopathy 90 percent of the time.
Conclusion: Majority of diabetic patients had some form of diabetic
retinopathy at the time of presentation to the ophthalmologists.
When the findings were taken together, the patient was diagnosed with solar
retinopathy due to the characteristic symptoms and bilateral findings present after an episode of sun gazing.
Compared to people without diabetes, patients with diabetic
retinopathy were 31% more likely to fall, the study also found.
KEY WORDS:
Retinopathy; Risk Factors; Screening; Visual Function