AI cuts diagnosis for eye disease from 23 days to just 30 seconds
A study in Tanzania found that an AI-assisted screening program for diabetic retinopathy reduced result wait times from 23 days to 30 seconds. The technology helps identify eye damage early, potentially preventing blindness in patients with limited access to specialists.
Why it matters
AI-driven diagnostic tools can bridge the healthcare gap in underserved regions, significantly improving patient outcomes and economic stability for families.
Diabetic retinopathy can lead to irreversible blindness if left untreated - Simon Townsley Patients whose eye scans were read by an AI programme got results in 30 seconds, compared to facing an average waiting time of 23 days for results from a doctor, a study in Tanzania has shown.
Millions of people around the world have diabetic retinopathy, a condition where high blood sugar levels damage the tiny blood vessels in the retina.
It can lead to irreversible blindness if left untreated. Around a third of the 23 million people with diabetes in Africa have the complication.
In its early stages, diabetic retinopathy can have no symptoms, and the World Health Organization recommends that people living with diabetes undergo regular screening to check their eye health, so that they can be treated if necessary.
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