Use of AI can revolutionise the manner in which patients are screened for diabetic retinopathy.

The Dubai Diabetes Centre is studying the possibility of using artificial intelligence (AI) to detect diabetic retinopathy. The 'virtual' expansion of the centre is under way while a feasibility study is also being carried out to set up another centre to cater to the increasing number of patients.

Dr Ahmed bin Kalban, CEO of specialised healthcare services sector at the Dubai Health Authority (DHA), said in an interview that the new service was being studied as part of an expansion plan of the centre. "The centre recently completed a proof of concept project for the implementation of AI to detect diabetic retinopathy," he said.

Use of AI can revolutionise the manner in which patients are screened for diabetic retinopathy. It is cost-effective, will provide high-quality care and will lead to better utilisation of resources. For a highly prevalent disease like diabetes, the benefits are simply multi-fold.

As per international diabetes standards, the centre needs to have 14 retinal images per diabetic. The estimated number of diagnosed diabetics in the UAE exceeds a million. To interpret 14 million images per year, more than 50 eye specialists are needed to work full-time.

Deep learning system (DLS) using AI are capable of identifying diabetic retinopathy and related eye diseases using retinal images with a high degree of accuracy. Thus, using AI can not only help provide retinopathy screening for a large number of diabetics but also lead to better utilisation of resources and time of ophthalmologists.

The multidisciplinary centre will undergo expansion services to enhance its capacity and cater to a larger number of patients. In 2017, the centre treated 972 new patients of which 4.82 per cent had Type 1 diabetes and 75.10 per cent had Type 2 diabetes. In 2018, the centre saw 862 patients.

"Diabetes in particular is a disease that requires specialised multidisciplinary care. Due to the continuous addition of patients, the number of existing patients has gone up considerably causing a delay in getting new patient appointments. Expanding existing facilities will allow us to treat a higher number of new patients and help us provide the usual level of care at the same time," said Dr Kalban.

The centre will also run on two shifts - 7.30am to 2.30pm and 2.30pm to 9pm. The centre will also soon begin an obesity clinic to help patients struggling with obesity with realistic and effective ways to lose weight and to maintain that weight loss as well.

asmaalizain@khaleejtimes.com