In the past, we noticed about the Fraunhofer AICOS’ prototype for detection of Diabetic Retinopathy. This system is comprised by an optic adapter attached to a smartphone with an application that enables the detection of early signs of Diabetic Retinopathy. Now, we tell you all that we are making tests at the hospital with real patients.
The application processes images of the eye fundus and automatically detects micro-aneurysms, which are the first visible signs of Diabetic Rethinopathy. This mobile-based solution enables an effetive pre-diagnosis in a non expert context, which means that it can be used in a regular medical appointment and thus diagnose and treat this disease that can cause visual impairment and even blindness.
In order to test the solution, we have been conducting tests in a Portuguese hospital. We have been collecting images from the eye fundus of patients with Diabetic Retinopathy and we have been assessing the quality of images. The sample of patients has different stages of Diabetic Retinopathy.
These are good news, especially today, the World Diabetes Day! The International Diabetes Federation (IDF) chosen Diabetic Rethinopathy as this year’s theme and created the campaign “Eyes on Diabetes“, which intends to raise awareness of the importance of screenings to early detect this complication of Diabetes. IDF reports that “early detection and timely treatment of Diabetic Retinopathy can prevent vision loss and reduce the impact of diabetes on individuals, their carers and society”. At Fraunhofer, researchers are working to create a low-cost and mobile prototype that will enable a reduction of screenings’ costs, that can be used in primary health care and in developing countries.
We will be back with more news regarding this project, for sure. Stay tuned!