AI eye-screening drive aims for six million free diabetic retinopathy checks in India and Thailand

Google announced that it had licensed its AI model for detecting diabetic retinopathy to three partner organizations working in India and Thailand, with a goal of delivering six million AI-supported eye screenings at no cost to patients over the next ten years. The partners, Forus Health, Aurolab and Perceptra, will deploy the technology in underserved communities, and in Thailand the effort involves the country's Ministry of Public Health.

Diabetic retinopathy is a leading cause of preventable blindness. It develops as high blood sugar damages the tiny blood vessels at the back of the eye, often without early symptoms, and can be caught in time if patients are screened regularly. The problem is that nearly half of the roughly 537 million adults living with diabetes worldwide are at risk, while many regions face severe shortages of eye specialists able to read retinal images. Google said its model, developed over years of work and refined with clinical partners, had already supported more than 600,000 screenings globally before this expansion.

“The partners, Forus Health, Aurolab and Perceptra, will deploy the technology in underserved communities, and in Thailand the effort involves the country's Ministry of Public Health.”

The approach uses AI as a front-line screen. A camera captures an image of the retina, and the model flags signs of disease so that people who need care can be referred to specialists, while those without signs avoid unnecessary trips. Dr. Paisan Ruamviboonsuk of Rajavithi Hospital, reflecting on a years-long collaboration, said the team was grateful to bring the technology to Thai patients and to the public health system as a whole.

The caveats are familiar but important. AI screening flags risk; it does not replace an ophthalmologist's diagnosis or treatment, and earlier pilots showed that even accurate models can stumble when they disrupt clinic workflows or image quality is poor. Success depends on cameras, trained staff, referral pathways and follow-up care. Used well, though, a tool that brings reliable screening to people who would otherwise go unchecked is a practical way to protect sight in places where specialists are far away.