Artificial intelligence developed by Google could be be better at spotting eye disease than human doctors, experts believe.

A two-year partnership between Google’s sister company, DeepMind and the renowned Moorfields Eye Hospital, showed “promising signs” in analysing retinal scans for signs of glaucoma, age-related macular degeneration and diabetic retinopathy.

The research has been submitted to a peer-reviewed medical journal amid hopes that the technology could enter clinical trials within a few years.

Dominic King, DeepMind's clinical lead, told the Financial Times: “In specific areas like medical imaging, you can see we're going to make really tremendous progress in the next couple of years with artificial intelligence.

“Machine learning could have a very important role picking up things more sensitively and specifically than currently happens.”

Peng Tee Khaw, director of research at Moorfields, said: "I am optimistic that what we learn from this research will benefit people around the world and help put an end to avoidable sight loss."