Jaipur: The Centre has approved Rajasthan's project to screen for diabetic retinopathy (DR), a serious eye condition caused by diabetes that can lead to vision loss. The initiative aims to identify early signs of retinal damage and provide timely treatment to prevent complications.

In July, the state health department launched MadhuNetr DR-AI, an artificial intelligence-based system for DR screening using fundus cameras. Fundus photography helps in documenting retinopathy and counselling patients by visually demonstrating the impact of the disease."We started MadhuNetr DR-AI considering the rising burden of diabetes. Retinopathy is a major complication and can cause irreversible vision damage," said Dr.

Sunil Singh, State Nodal Officer for Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs).The AI system enables early detection by grading the severity of retinopathy. Based on the results, patients are referred to ophthalmologists for further treatment. Initially, the screening was launched in five locations- Pali, Jalore, Deshnok (Bikaner), Karauli, and Beawar, where fundus cameras were already available. With Central funding now approved, eight more screening centres will soon be established in govt hospitals across the state.

So far, 65 patients have been screened in the five operational centres, with 15 diagnosed with retinopathy and referred for advanced care. The health department is prioritising NCD prevention due to high prevalence rates. In May, it reported that 20% of the population above 30 years in the state suffers from diabetes, hypertension, or both—equating to 370 out of every 1,850 people in that age group. The department said 37% of the state's population is above the age of 30 years.