Artificial intelligence (AI) may sound futuristic, but it already exists in many everyday technologies. For example, it gives our handheld devices voice and facial recognition capabilities. AI is also making its presence felt in biotechnology, where it has become integral to many aspects of drug discovery and development. AI applications in biotech include drug target identification, drug screening, image screening, and predictive modeling. AI is also being used to comb through the scientific literature and manage clinical trial data.

A new artificial intelligence system is capable of detecting diabetic retinopathy 95.5% of the time. The technology was described at the annual meeting of the American Academy of Ophthalmology (12–15 October, San Francisco). The system, named EyeArt, was used to screen 893 patients with diabetes in 15 different medical locations. It can provide a reading within 60 seconds. EyeArt displayed 95.5% sensitivity and 86% specificity, while more than 90% of eyes flagged as positive by the system had diabetic retinopathy or another eye disease.

Accurate, automated retinal screening is an important development for the millions of diabetic patients who require annual examination for sight-threatening diabetic retinopathy. New research, presented at the 123rd Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Ophthalmology (12–15 October 2019, CA, USA) – demonstrates that an automated, artificial intelligence (AI) screening system can detect diabetic retinopathy with more than 95% accuracy. Approximately 25% of diabetic individuals in the USA will develop retinopathy. Initially, such retinal damage may be asymptomatic, but can ultimately lead to blindness. There are various options available for the treatment of diabetic retinopathy, however, early diagnosis significantly improves treatment effectiveness.

Data on the effectiveness of the artificial intelligence screening system EyeArt was presented at the American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO) 2019 Annual Meeting in San Francisco. Results of the study examining EyeArt revealed the system had the ability to accurately predict diabetic retinopathy 95.5% of the time, without the input of an ophthalmologist, and in less than a minute. With the diabetes epidemic continuing to plague patient populations in the US and across the globe--and 1 in 4 diabetics developing diabetic retinopathy--investigators sought to evaluate the effectiveness of the artificial intelligence screening system in a group of 893 patients. Led by Srinivas Sadda, MD, of the Doheny Eye Institute at UCLA, investigators conducted the study at 15 different centers across the US. For inclusion in the study, patients needed to have a diagnosis pf diabetes mellitus, be at least 18 years of age, and provide written informed consent.

An artificial intelligence software platform is able to provide automated real-time screening for quick detection of diabetic retinopathy, without the help of an expert ophthalmologist. The AI platform, called EyeArt from vendor Eyenuk, was used to screen 893 patients with diabetes at 15 different medical locations as part of a new study. Results of the study, which compared EyeArt against experts using the gold standard for visual acuity testing, were presented on Tuesday at the Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Ophthalmology. What researchers found was that the AI platform accurately detected diabetic retinopathy 95.5 percent of the time, using images of patients' undilated pupils. "The system doesn't require the input of an expert ophthalmologist, and it can provide a reading in 60 seconds, making real-time screening possible for primary care practices and diabetes centers," according to the American Academy of Ophthalmology.