As the leading pan-European network of ophthalmology care, Veonet is committed to ensuring that its patients receive the highest standards of care through the integration of cutting-edge technology.
In a rapidly evolving healthcare landscape, veonet is actively embracing digitalisation and innovation. Testament to this, is the collaboration with RetInSight, the Austrian company that has developed a pioneer medical software solution that uses artificial intelligence (AI) for automated analysis and monitoring of retinal images from patients diagnosed with age-related macular degeneration (AMD).
AMD an increasingly prevalent, chronic condition
AMD is an eye condition that affects the central part of the eye’s retina, the macula, and can lead to severe vision loss as the macula is responsible for sharp, central vision, which is crucial for activities like reading, driving, and recognizing faces.
There are two main types of AMD: dry and wet. Dry AMD is the slower-progressing form, where the central vision gradually deteriorates and can lead to the presence of geographic atrophy (GA), while wet AMD involves the growth of abnormal blood vessels, leading to rapid vision loss.
AMD affects around 67 million people in Europe and is expected to increase to 77 million until 2050, representing a significant burden to patients and health care systems. Given that AMD is a chronic condition, the assessment of disease progression for appropriate management is essential.
Current clinical practice for managing AMD relies heavily on the assessment of Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) images to detect and quantify signs, ultimately guiding treatment decisions.
Harnessing the power of AI for improved AMD treatment
AI has the potential to offer significant advantages by automating OCT scan analysis. Retinsight AI software solutions present two different features: the GA monitor and the Fluid monitor. The GA Monitor visualizes, localizes and quantifies the degeneration of the photoreceptors and the loss of the retinal pigment epithelium long before this is recognizable in clinical routine. The Fluid Monitor allows eyecare practitioners to instantly recognize and quantify disease-specific fluids in various retinal layers, helping in the assessment of disease progression and in treatment decision-making.
Therefore, AI could improve treatment precision, reduce the risk, enhance clinical efficiency, and ultimately lead to better visual outcomes for patients.
Vista Klinik Binningen: Pioneering AI research for early detection and diagnosis of AMD
To contribute towards gaining more understanding on how AI can help in the early detection and diagnosis of AMD, one of our centers, Vista Klinik Binningen, is also a partner in a groundbreaking Horizon EU research & innovation framework programme called I-SCREEN and funded with 4.7 million Euros by the European Union.
The I-SCREEN project consists of a multidisciplinary consortium that brings together a network of clinical retina experts, computer scientists working at the cutting edge of AI development, an infrastructure of community-based opticians/optometrists, and small and medium-sized enterprises experienced in clinical decision support systems for ophthalmology.
One of the objectives of this project is to run large prospective, multinational, multicenter, observational studies of patients with intermediate AMD (SUDETES) and functional atrophic AMD (APENNINES). Vista Klinik Binningen, a member of veonet, is a participating site that will contribute to addressing the challenge of limited longitudinal data availability and towards the personalized monitoring and identification of disease progression through AI-based predictive models.
By contributing to this research, Veonet is reinforcing its commitment to staying at the forefront of ophthalmic innovation and shaping the future of patient care.
A Vision for the Future of Ophthalmology
As veonet expands its network across Europe, this collaboration and research efforts are one of several initiatives that demonstrate our leadership in integrating AI into clinical practice and our commitment to digital transformation.
This approach will continue to guide our patient-centered ophthalmic care, ensuring that we remain at the forefront of medical technology.
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