Ophthalmology services have evolved over the years to adapt to current challenges, so it is essential to constantly implement new technologies that offer more tools to professionals.

The number of patients with chronic retinal problems is increasing due to the aging of the population and the generalization of unhealthy habits. Especially worrisome is diabetic retinopathy, which is the leading cause of blindness in Spain and increases with the increase in the diabetic population. Therefore, early detection is important to be able to monitor patients in the initial phases in order to prevent or at least delay vision loss.

In this context, the new systems based on artificial intelligence (AI) for the early detection of retinal problems are even more important, since they offer a processing capacity far superior to that of humans. This increases both the quality of diagnoses and the number of tests that can be analyzed per unit of time.

EyeCloud is a cloud-based system powered by AI algorithms for the detection and prognosis of conditions such as diabetic retinopathy (DR) and diabetic macular edema (DME). It is implemented in fundus cameras present in health centers.

The technology has been implemented in a first pilot test in the Ophthalmology Service of the Vic Hospital, which covers the Osona region (Catalonia). In this area, 13,000 patients per year are eligible for DME screening. However, tests are only carried out on a total of 2,500 patients (19.2%), of whom between 5 and 7% are referred to the ophthalmology service of the Hospital de Vic. Given this clear lack of preventive screening among the population, EyeCloud is positioned as a solution to this need.

The implementation of this project at the Consorci Hospitalari de Vic has been exclusively sponsored by Bayer. You can find posts about the project here.