Lions Outback Vision, an innovative health technology program, has deployed a mobile AI-driven screening technology to detect diabetic retinopathy in people living in remote parts of Western Australia.
As reported by Optometry Today (OT) on Sunday, July 14, 2024, the mobile service Warlu AI is being delivered to Pilbara under the Lions Outback Vision project founded by Professor Angus Turner of the University of Western Australia in response to the government’s Pilbara Challenge.
The Pilbara Challenge, announced by the government of Western Australia in 2022, aims to find world-leading innovative medical research that can help solve the health service delivery problem in the Pilbara region.
So far, Lions Outback Vision (LOV) and nine other finalists have progressed to the proof-of-concept, where they will be required to implement their innovative solutions in the Pilbara region within 12 months.
The best solution will win a $5 million prize set aside by the Future Health Research and Innovation Fund, BHP, and Rio Tinto by the end of the competition in October.
Innovative Eye Screening Technology—The Study
Initially, Professor Turner partnered with Google Health, which developed the screening software to test for diabetic retinopathy in 864 Aboriginal patients living in western Australia.
The test results showed that the performance of AI screening technology was equal to that of retinal specialists and often outperformed the specialists in detecting diabetic retinopathy among the Pilbara residents.
According to Turner, mobile screening health technology improved screening rates and awareness. The mobile vans also allowed the medical team to spend more time with the Aboriginal community, build trust, and ensure they understood the repercussions of losing their eyesight.
The use of mobile vans and AI-powered eye screening technology to serve communities living in remote areas is a testament to how innovative technologies can transform modern healthcare by improving screening efficiency, reducing cost, and boosting access to quality care.
