Google just announced a major step forward using artificial intelligence to spot eye diseases early. Their new AI system analyzes pictures of the back of the eye, called retinal scans. Doctors already use these scans to check for problems. Google’s AI helps do this faster and maybe better.
(Google AI in healthcare: Retinal scan diagnosis)
The technology focuses on finding signs of diabetic retinopathy. This is a common eye problem for people with diabetes. It damages blood vessels in the retina. Finding it early is crucial to prevent vision loss. The AI spots tiny damage human experts might overlook. It looks at the scan and gives a result quickly. This result tells doctors if the patient likely has the disease and how serious it is.
Google developed this AI by studying many thousands of anonymized retinal scans. The AI learned patterns linked to diabetic eye disease. It doesn’t replace doctors. Instead, it gives them a powerful tool. The goal is speeding up diagnosis, especially where eye specialists are scarce. Patients could get results during a regular check-up. This means faster treatment if needed.
(Google AI in healthcare: Retinal scan diagnosis)
Google is now testing this AI system in real clinics. They are working with medical partners in several countries. These tests check how well the AI performs in everyday doctor’s offices. Accuracy and reliability are key. Google also emphasizes patient privacy. The AI works on the scan images without needing personal health details. The company sees this as part of its broader effort to use AI for improving global health outcomes. They believe this technology can make expert-level eye screening available to more people everywhere. More updates are expected as testing progresses.