Model 02 · Retinal Imaging
Five-level severity classification aligned to the ETDRS grading scale, enabling automated diabetic eye disease screening from fundus photographs.
Clinical Background
Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is the most common microvascular complication of diabetes mellitus and the leading cause of preventable blindness among working-age adults. Globally, approximately one-third of all people with diabetes have some degree of DR.
DR results from sustained hyperglycaemia damaging the small blood vessels of the retina, leading to a cascade of pathological changes: initial microaneurysm formation, progressive vascular leakage and occlusion, ischaemia-driven neovascularisation, and ultimately tractional retinal detachment in severe cases.
Annual diabetic eye screening is recommended for all individuals with diabetes, yet adherence to screening programmes is globally suboptimal. AI-powered analysis of fundus photographs — taken in primary care, optometry, or pharmacy settings — can dramatically expand screening reach while reducing the burden on specialist graders.
EyeMap.ai's DR model is calibrated to the Early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Study (ETDRS) severity scale, the international clinical standard. This 5-level schema enables direct comparison with published clinical benchmarks and integration into existing NHS and European screening pathways.
| Level | Classification | Key Features |
|---|---|---|
| 0 | No DR | Normal retinal vasculature. No microaneurysms, haemorrhages, exudates, or neovascularisation. |
| 1 | Mild NPDR | Microaneurysms only. No haemorrhages, hard exudates, or neovascularisation. |
| 2 | Moderate NPDR | More than just microaneurysms but less than severe NPDR. May include blot haemorrhages, hard exudates, cotton-wool spots. |
| 3 | Severe NPDR | Any of the 4-2-1 rule criteria: >20 haemorrhages in each quadrant; venous beading in ≥2 quadrants; intraretinal microvascular abnormalities (IRMA) in ≥1 quadrant. |
| 4 | Proliferative DR | Neovascularisation at disc (NVD) or elsewhere (NVE), vitreous or pre-retinal haemorrhage, or fibrovascular proliferative tissue. High risk of vision loss. |
Technical Specification