Starting March, Busan City Health Centers to Conduct 'AI-Based Fundus Examinations'

Screening Tests Available for the Three Major Causes of Blindness

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Dongguk Lee] Busan City will conduct artificial intelligence (AI)-based fundus examinations at 16 district and county public health centers in Busan starting in March.

Scene from the Busan City Public Health Center AI-based Fundus Examination Project Briefing Session.

The AI-based fundus examination is an ophthalmic disease diagnostic service using artificial intelligence that allows easy and simple screening for the three major blindness-causing diseases: diabetic retinopathy, macular degeneration, and glaucoma.

With the recent increase in aging and chronic disease patients such as diabetes, the incidence of blindness-causing diseases is also rising. Especially since these diseases show no special symptoms and the probability of early detection is very low, without regular checkups, patients may face the risk of blindness. Therefore, this examination was introduced to enable citizens to detect and treat these diseases early.

To this end, at 10 a.m. on the 13th, a ‘Public Health Center AI-based Fundus Examination Support Project Briefing’ was held in the small conference room on the 12th floor of City Hall with AI Insight (CEO Kim Hyunghoe), where a demonstration was presented along with information on fundus examination, electronic registration methods, and distribution schedules.

In February, public health center staff from districts and counties will be trained, and fundus examination equipment will be installed at each center. The fundus examinations will begin in March.

Patients vulnerable to blindness-causing diseases such as hypertension, diabetes, and dyslipidemia who are registered at public health centers can receive fundus examinations free of charge, and free examinations will later be expanded to the general public.

Lee Sora, Director of the Citizen Health Bureau of Busan City, said, “AI-based fundus examinations will continue to see increasing demand due to their convenient testing method and quick results. Hypertension, diabetes, and dyslipidemia are precursor diseases to cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases with high mortality rates, and prevention and management of these diseases are crucial to creating a healthy Busan. We expect that the introduction of this examination will enable early detection and treatment of complications caused by these diseases.”

Artificial Intelligence (AI)-based fundus examination.

The city explained that hypertension, diabetes, and dyslipidemia can reduce the occurrence of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases such as myocardial infarction and stroke through lifestyle improvements like regular exercise, healthy eating, smoking cessation, appropriate medication, and regular complication screenings for treatment and management.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.