Emirates Health Services (EHS), through its Primary Healthcare Department, has launched a campaign in partnership with "Eye Care" company to detect diabetic retinopathy early. The initiative will screen 1,000 patients in each of Umm Al Quwain, Ras Al Khaimah, and Fujairah using AI technologies. This effort aims to boost community health, increase awareness, prevent diseases, enhance the quality of life for diabetic patients, and deliver top-quality healthcare services to them.
The campaign also aims to raise awareness, prevent eye diseases, and deliver optimal healthcare for diabetic patients. Moreover, it focuses on enhancing the efficiency of early screening in non-communicable disease clinics. By utilizing digital tools, the campaign employs advanced AI technologies to capture and analyze retinal images. This facilitates the early detection of various retinal conditions like diabetic retinopathy, age-related macular degeneration, and glaucoma with high accuracy, reducing the impact of these complications. This initiative reflects the EHS dedication to providing proactive and integrated healthcare services that meet the diverse needs of the community using state-of-the-art healthcare and treatment advancements.
Dr. Sujood Al Shareef, Project Manager for Non-Communicable Diseases at Emirates Health Services, underscored the increasing emphasis on early and proactive disease detection, particularly for conditions associated with chronic illnesses that pose a risk of vision impairment, such as diabetic retinopathy. She noted that the initiative is based on utilizing artificial intelligence technologies to strengthen the healthcare system in the UAE, offering outstanding healthcare services that aid in preventing eye diseases and enhancing the health and well-being of diabetic patients.
Al Shareef explained that the technology used focuses on detecting diabetic retinopathy, a significant complication of diabetes and a leading cause of vision loss. This is achieved through a specialized camera for retinal imaging, capturing precise images of the patient's eye. Subsequently, these images are examined and evaluated using artificial intelligence to identify early signs of diabetic retinopathy. She highlighted that thanks to the quality of this technology, eye doctors can now detect these complications at early stages, ensuring timely administration of appropriate treatment.