Oman Expands AI-Powered Diabetic Eye Screening to 25 Health Institutions

Oman Expands AI-Powered Screening for Diabetic Retinopathy

Muscat: The National Project for Diabetic Retinopathy Screening Using Artificial Intelligence Technologies represents a major step in Oman’s efforts to advance digital healthcare and strengthen the early detection of diabetes-related eye complications.

Oman is the third country in the world to implement the project, which uses artificial intelligence to analyze retinal images, improve diagnostic efficiency, reduce screening time and support early intervention.

The project aims to establish a national framework for the early detection and management of diabetic retinopathy, reduce cases of vision loss and blindness, and expand access to specialized eye-care services for patients with Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes.

Anas bin Nasser Al-Kimyani, Director of the National Virtual Health Center at the Ministry of Health, told Oman News Agency that the project has achieved significant health, operational and economic results since its launch.

He said more than 43,000 patients have benefited from the service, with the system analyzing more than 43,000 retinal images. More than 12,000 patients, representing around 30 percent of beneficiaries, were identified as requiring specialized clinical examinations, allowing for earlier medical intervention.

The AI system recorded an accuracy rate of 91.3 percent, with sensitivity reaching 85 percent, supporting healthcare professionals in identifying cases requiring further assessment.

The project has also contributed to an 87 percent reduction in waiting lists at specialized eye clinics. During the first seven months of implementation, average waiting times for examination and treatment appointments fell from 62 days to eight days.

The use of AI has additionally reduced the initial screening process from around one to one-and-a-half hours, including procedures involving pupil-dilating drops, to approximately 15 minutes.

From an economic perspective, the project has reduced annual operating costs by 43.2 percent compared with procedures used before its implementation, while supporting efforts to reduce the costs associated with treating advanced complications resulting from delayed detection.

The first phase of the project is currently being implemented across 25 health institutions in different governorates, with plans to expand the service to additional health centres, particularly in remote areas.

The highest levels of service utilization have so far been recorded in the Wilayats of Seeb, Bawshar, Sohar and Ibri.

The project’s next phase includes plans to introduce screening for other eye diseases, including glaucoma and keratoconus, expand virtual medicine services and establish specialized follow-up clinics supported by trained opticians and AI technologies.

The project also envisages developing a locally trained AI system based on retinal images from Oman, further strengthening the Sultanate’s capabilities in health innovation.

The initiative reflects Oman’s continued efforts to integrate advanced technologies into healthcare services, improve early diagnosis, reduce pressure on specialized clinics and enhance the quality and sustainability of healthcare in line with national development priorities.