Autonomous AI technology for detection of eye disease is to be used in Norway, in what is thought to be the first time in the world that such a program has been used in a national health system.
A media release from Eyenuk, a US company developing AI-powered eye screening, said its EyeArt AI Eye Screening System had been chosen for deployment in the South-Eastern Norway Regional Health Authority.
There were plans to scale its use across Norway’s National Health System in the coming years, it said.
The EyeArt AI system enables automated grading of retinal images in under 30 seconds, without requiring an ophthalmologist’s review. Results will be stored directly in the national electronic medical record system, ensuring seamless integration into patient care pathways.
Eyenuk said the initiative would support Norway’s ambitious goal to ensure that more than 95% of people with diabetes received timely retinal examinations, compared with just 55% today.
The South-Eastern Norway Regional Health Authority is the largest of Norway’s four regional health systems, covering 3.1 million people, over half of Norway’s population. Given its size and strategic location, including capital Oslo, it plays a pivotal role in national healthcare delivery and innovation.
Diabetic retinopathy is the most common complication of diabetes and the leading cause of vision loss and blindness in working-age adults. In Norway, one in two people with diabetes do not receive adequate follow-up care, largely due to a shortage of ophthalmologists and constrained health resources.
The release said that by leveraging the EyeArt system’s autonomous AI capabilities, the health authority aimed to expand capacity, reduce bottlenecks, and provide timely, equitable access to diabetic eye screenings.
“[EyeArt] helps us to examine more people with diabetes,” said Mr Ulrich Spreng, medical director at the health authority.
“With better use of healthcare professionals’ time, we expect that the waiting time for retinal examinations will be significantly reduced. A better patient overview will also provide more efficient management and control – and create the foundation for greater equality in treatment.”
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