Google sets sights on frontier of artificial intelligence: curing blindness

Scientists in Google's health division are developing technology they believe can help doctors better diagnose, treat and prevent vision impairment caused by diabetic retinopathy -- a common eye disease among diabetics that can lead to blindness. The technology is a cloud-based algorithm that analyzes photographic images of the eye for signs of the disease and grades the severity of the problem. Signs include abnormal growth of blood vessels in the back of the eye that causes scarring and detachment of the retina. The algorithm is being tested in clinical trials and has not been approved by federal regulators. It is considered a medical device and would have to be approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to be used in clinical care.